EFFECTS OF CULTURING CLARIAS GARIEPINUS FINGERLINS IN GRADED LEVELS OF MORINGA SEED POWDER TREATED WATER ON GROWTH AND SURVIVAL RATE IN MUBI ADAMAWA STATE-NIGERIA

Abstract

A study was conducted to determining the influence of graded levels of Moringa seed powder treated water on the growth and survival of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings. 240 Clarias gariepinus fingerlings obtained from Abdul Fana Farms, Yola used and were randomly assigned to twelve (12) experimental tanks (1m x 1.2 m x 1 m) of 60 per treatment (Each treatment was replicated three (3) times) and 20 per experimental tank. Dried seeds of Moringa oleifera was ground into fine powder and graded into four (4) levels and designated as treatment   T1, T2, T3 and T4 (0g, 5g, 10g and 15g, respectively). The tanks were filled to average of 100 litres of water. The fingerlings were fed three (3) times daily. Data were taken on the percentage weight gain, length gain, survival rate and water quality. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS version 23.0. The result revealed that the treatment T2 gave highest weight gain of 14.77+0.67g and this could be due to stability in water pH. The length gain was highest in T1 (7.83+0.33), growth rate was highest in T2 (1.38+0.83) and the survival rate was highest in T2 (86.66+0.67). Dissolved Oxygen was highest in T0 (4.80+0.0), Temperature highest in T2 (26.61+0.42) and pH highest in T1 (8.16+0.66). This study concluded that Moringa oleifera seed could be used effectively for water reuse in the culture of Clarias. gariepinus fingerlings without any negative effects on the growth performances. It is therefore recommended that culture water should be treated using Moringa seed powder at 10g/100 L to reduce the rate of water spoilage in fish culture.