Growth Performance of African Catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) Fry in a Green House
Keywords:
Growth performance, Cathfish, GreenHouseAbstract
Temperature has pervasive controlling effects on the rates of food consumption and metabolism thus affects growth of fish. Water temperature can be increased by use of green houses to enhance fish growth. A study was conducted at Chepkoilel University College fish farm in Eldoret, Kenya to investigate the effect of greenhouse on growth of catfish (Clarias gariepinus) fry. Four day old fry of an initial average length and weight of 6 mm and 0.02 g respectively were held in black circular plastic tanks of 0.7 meters high inside and outside the greenhouse. The tanks were filled with 1.5 m3 of water each. Each tank was stocked with 1000 fry. Dissolved oxygen in tanks that were outside the green house was significantly higher than in those in the green house (p<0.05). While all fry had an initial mean length of 6mm. At the end of the study, mean length inside was 12.19 (±2.9) mm and significantly higher than outside the greenhouse at 9.5 (±1.6) mm (p< 0.05). Initial mean weight was 0.02g (±0.045) and 0.127g (±0.015) inside and outside the greenhouse respectively at the end of the study. Since fry survival was low (37%), regular grading of fry and provision of adequate live feeds to boost survival of fry is recommended for increased catfish fry production in greenhouses.
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