Growth Rates of Two African Catfishes Osteichthys: (Clariidae) in Homestead Concrete Ponds

Abstract

Yields of two African catfishes, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell) and Heterobranchus longifilis (Valenciennes) in polyculture with Sarotherodon nilotica (Artedi) as trash fish were investigated over a 10 month period. The growth rate of H. longifilis was siginificantly higher (P < 0.05) than of C. gariepinus under identical culture conditions. The mean harvest weights were 1112.5g and 668.0g for H. longifilis and C. gariepinus respectively. Highest individual weights recorded were 1410.0g for H. longifilis and 741.0g for C. gariepinus. The higher percentage mortality of 12.5% observed for H. longifilis as against 7.5% observed for C. gariepinus may indicate the higher carnivorous habits of H. longifilis and perhaps explains the camparatively larger sizes of H. longifilis over C. gariepinus when cultured with S. nilotica as trash fish.


Journal of Aquatic Sciences Volume 15, April 2000, pp. 55-58



KEY WORDS:

Heterobranchus longifilis, Clarias gariepinus, Homestead pond, growth rate.