The Influence of Feeding Frequency on the Growth and Feed Utilization of Catfish, Clarias gariepinus Fry in Outdoor Concrete Tanks

Abstract

C. gariepinus fry (mean weight 0.14g) were fed on 40% Crude Protein at 10% body weight per day at four different feeding regimen i.e. continuously 24h/day (24), 6 meals/d, 4 meals/d or 2 meals/d in outdoor concrete tanks. The fry attained the highest average weight of 4.92g in 56 days when fed continuously for 24h/d with significant difference (P>0.05) among treatments. Feed conversion ratio ranged from 0.75 to 0.96, the protein efficiency ratio from 2.69 to 3.32 with significant differences (P < 0.05) among treatments.
Survival of the fish varied from 87.0% to 95.5% and did not vary among treatments (P < 0.05). Fish fed continuously, 24h/d had the best protein deposition and the least lipid content was with 2 meals/d. The results suggest that a feeding regime of 24h/d would be a more strategy for feeding C. gariepinus fry to fingering size in outdoor hatchery ponds.