M.Y. Abubakar - Department of Forestry and Fisheries, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B ۲۳۴۶, Sokoto, Nigeria
J.K. Ipinjolu - Department of Forestry and Fisheries, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B ۲۳۴۶, Sokoto, Nigeria

Commercial (Multifeed) diets were fed to Clarias gariepinus fry earlier weaned from decapsulated Artemia and dried mixed-cultured zooplankton at (۳% and ۵%) feeding rates each for ۲۱ days, to assess fry survival and growth on the two feeding rate. Dietary treatments were in triplicate, in a completely randomized design. Fry were randomly distributed into ۱۲ aerated, ۳۰litres plastic tanks at a stocking rate of ۳۰ fry per tank. The best percent survival (۴۰.۰۰±۳۱.۸۰) which was not statistically (P>۰.۰۵) significant from other treatments was in the fry fed commercial feed at ۳% feeding rate, which were weaned on zooplankton. Specific growth rate was not significantly (P>۰.۰۵) different but higher (۶.۳۷±۰.۹۱) in the fry fed commercial feed at ۵% feeding rate, earlier fed Artemia at ۵% feeding rate. FCR, GFCE, and FE of fry fed commercial feed at ۳% feeding rate, which were earlier fed zooplankton, were the best with no significant (P>۰.۰۵) differences among the four treatments. The study revealed that the fry earlier fed decapsulated Artemia and those fed dried mixed cultured freshwater zooplankton could be weaned on commercial feed at ۳% and ۵% feeding rates, with no significant (P<۰.۰۵) difference on the fry growth, survival and feed conversion.Commercial (Multifeed) diets were fed to Clarias gariepinus fry earlier weaned from decapsulated Artemia and dried mixed-cultured zooplankton at (۳% and ۵%) feeding rates each for ۲۱ days, to assess fry survival and growth on the two feeding rate. Dietary treatments were in triplicate, in a completely randomized design. Fry were randomly distributed into ۱۲ aerated, ۳۰litres plastic tanks at a stocking rate of ۳۰ fry per tank. The best percent survival (۴۰.۰۰±۳۱.۸۰) which was not statistically (P>۰.۰۵) significant from other treatments was in the fry fed commercial feed at ۳% feeding rate, which were weaned on zooplankton. Specific growth rate was not significantly (P>۰.۰۵) different but higher (۶.۳۷±۰.۹۱) in the fry fed commercial feed at ۵% feeding rate, earlier fed Artemia at ۵% feeding rate. FCR, GFCE, and FE of fry fed commercial feed at ۳% feeding rate, which were earlier fed zooplankton, were the best with no significant (P>۰.۰۵) differences among the four treatments. The study revealed that the fry earlier fed decapsulated Artemia and those fed dried mixed cultured freshwater zooplankton could be weaned on commercial feed at ۳% and ۵% feeding rates, with no significant (P<۰.۰۵) difference on the fry growth, survival and feed conversion.

Commercial, Multifeed, Dietary treatments, Specific Growth Rate