DIETARY ADMINISTRATION OF MALABAR SPINACH (Basella alba) LEAVES EXTRACTS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, SURVIVAL AND CONDITION FACTOR OF JUVENILES Clarias gariepinus

Abstract

A 56 day experiment was aimed to determine the dietary supplementation of Malabar spinach leaves (Basella alba) (BA) extracts and Chloramphenicol (CHRL) on growth, survival and condition factor of juveniles Clarias gariepinus. Fish with average weight of 4.11±0.01g were distributed into five treatments, replicated twice with 20 fish per replicate. Experimental diets consist of control (0%), BA2 (1%), BA3 (2%), CHRL4 (30mg/kg), and (BA+CHRL) 5 (2%) were fed twice daily to the experimental fish at 3% body weight of 45% crude protein. Biological indices (Mean weight gain, Specific growth rate, Survival rate, Nitrogen metabolism, Protein efficiency ratio and Protein intake) were determined. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at P=0.05. The result indicated that, fish fed the diets supplemented with BA and CHRL enhanced weight gain, specific growth rate, survival rate, Nitrogen metabolism, protein efficiency ratio and protein intake when compared to the control diets (P<0.05). The result suggested that BA extracts, and combination of the plant with chloramphenicol would positively enhance growth, survival and health status of C. gariepinus juveniles.