EFFECT OF DIFFERENT CARBON SOURCES (CORN FLOUR, SORGHUM AND RICE BRAN) ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND CONDITION INDICES OF THE AFRICAN CATFISH IN BIOFLOC CULTURE SYSTEM.

Abstract

Three different carbon sources (corn flour, rice bran and sorghum) were evaluated for their suitability in biofloc system. A sixty days (60) rearing trial was conducted where 8 circular plastic tanks (100 L) each were used as experimental units for different treatments and the control all in duplicate. Each tank was stocked with 25 fingerlings of the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) with average body weight of 8.90±0.00g and the culture water was aerated. Length and weight of the fishes were monitored weekly and recorded. The use of corn, rice bran, and sorghum as carbon sources in this experiment Enhanced growth performance and nutrient utilization of the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) fingerlins. After six weeks rearing period, the survival of fish in all treatments was not significantly different (p <0.005); control group (94%); corn treatment (98%), sorghum (90%) and rice bran (96%) (Table 1). Total weight was higher (p < 0.005) in corn treatments compared to control. Specific growth rate (SGR), showed significantly higher values among the treatments (p < 0.05). Corn is recorded to have higher liver weight than the control at (p< 0.05) but there is no significant difference between all the treatments (corn, rice bran and sorghum).