Growth performance of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings fed sodium sesquicarbonate (Trona) processed soybean diets

Abstract

Full-fat soybean was processed by soaking in aqueous solutions of sodium sesquicarbonate, Na₂CO₃.NaHCO₃.2H₂O at 0.50%, 1.00%, 1.50% w/v concentrations at room temperatures for 24 hours. The processed soybean was sun-dried, milled, assayed and then used in formulating four iso-nitrogenous diets represented by diet T₁ (0.50%), diet T₂ (1.00%) and diet T₃ (1.50%) respectively, diet T₀ (0%) served as the control diet. The experimental fish, Clarias gariepinus fingerlings (initial mean weight: 5.91 + 0.01 g) were stocked at 20 per hapa of 1m³ and fed at 5% body weight. There was significant difference (P < 0.05) in mean weight gain (MWG) of the fish fed the treatment diets. Fish fed diet T₂ had the highest MWG of 12.10 g. Similarly, there was significant difference (P < 0.05) in specific growth rate (SGR); food conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER). Fish fed diet T₂ had the highest SGR. PER and conversely the lowest FCR of 2.50, while fish fed diet T₁ was poorly utilised with the highest FCR of 5.0 and lowest MWG of 4.45 g, SGR of 0.4% day^-1 and PER of 0.80.


Key words: Growth performance; Clarias gariepinus, sodium sesquicarbonate, soybean.


Journal of Aquatic Sciences Vol.20(1) 2005: 43-46