OPTIMIZING CLARIAS GARIEPINUS JUVENILE GROWTH WITH LEMNA MINOR LEAF MEAL

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of including Lemna minor (duckweed) in the diet of Clarias gariepinus juvenile on their viscerosomatic and hepatosomatic indices. A total of 225 juvenile fish were fed with five experimental diets containing varying levels of duckweed inclusion, from 0% to 100% inclusion. The feeding rate of the fish increased fortnightly based on 5% biomass. Results showed that the inclusion of duckweed had a significant effect on the weight gain and viscerosomatic and hepatosomatic indices of the fish. Fish fed with a diet containing 100% inclusion of duckweed had the highest weight of viscerosomatic and hepatosomatic indices. The study recommends the inclusion of L. minor leaf meal in the diet of Clarias gariepinus at 100% inclusion, which can enhance feed utilization efficiency and reduce the cost of conventional feedstuff.