Pond farming of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), in northern Cameroon. Adding hand-sexed male tilapia to graze the dense algal blooms in ponds with African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell)

Four earthen ponds (250 m² each) were stocked each with 250 small catfish (W₀=39g). In treatment A, African catfish. Clarias gariepinus (Burchell), were raised in monoculture, while in treatment B catfish were raised in polyculture with an additional 125 male Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.) (W₀=44g). Feeding of cottonseed cake was at about 4% of catfish body weight day^?1. Daily feed quantities, however, were averaged over all four ponds so that each pond received the same amount of cottonseed cake. Rearing time was 118 days. In treatment A, catfish grew to an average weight of 200g. In treatment B, catfish reached 158g and tilapia 185g, Extrapolated marketable fish production was strikingly similar in all four ponds (around 4.8 t ha^?1 year^?1). No synergistic effect was obtained by stocking microphagous tilapia, although the feeding of cottonseed cake enhanced dense algal blooms in all ponds. Catfish did not appear to exploit the tilapia recruits, as an indirect pathway of algae cropping.     

Pond farming of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), in northern Cameroon. Feeding combinations of cottonseed cake and brewery waste in fingerling culture, hand-sexed male monosex culture, and mixed culture with police-fish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell)

Twelve production trials were analysed retrospectively, covering three different rearing methods in which Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), were fed with combinations or cottonseed cake and brewery waste. Highest extrapolated net pond productions, including tilapia recruits, were obtained in tilapia fingerling rearing (W₀ <10 g; 11.8 t ha^?1 year^?1). Stocking African catfish, as police-fish (0.2 catfish m^?2) in mixed tilapia (W₀ > 90 g) culture was effective in controlling tilapia recruitment, but net pond production was low (4.1 t ha^?1 year^?1). Hand-sexing of male tilapias (W₀ > 90 g) only limited recruitment but resulted in a significantly higher net pond production (8.6 t ha^?1 year^?1) than in mixed culture. Extrapolated marketable production in the treatment stocked with hand-sexed tilapia males (tilapia only) was also higher than the extrapolated marketable production in the mixed culture treatment (tilapia and catfish combined), although this difference was not significant. Extrapolated net pond production and extrapolated net tilapia production were both significantly correlated to the daily feeding rate of cottonseed cake but not to the daily feeding rate of brewery waste. The high relative FCRs of the feed mixture were probably due to the brewery waste.     

Pond farming of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.) in northern Cameroon. Comparing two different strategles for feeding cottonseed cake in tilapia male monosex culture

Two cottonseed cake feeding strategies were tested in pond culture of hand-sexed male Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.). (W₀ > 80 g), with the objective of making better use of the algal blooms which develop when cottonseed cake is applied to a pond. In the conventional ‘progressive feeding strategy’, the daily amount of cottonseed cake was adjusted monthly for the total tilapia bioweight estimated from sampling, assuming that cottonseed cake primarily acted as a tilapia feed. In the ‘linear feeding strategy’, ponds received a fixed daily amount of cottonseed cake throughout the trial, based on the hypothesis that tilapia would cover their nutritional requirements mostly by grazing the algae. Each feeding strategy was tested at two feeding levels. Mean daily feeding rate R in the progressive feeding strategy averaged 48.6 (low feeding level) and 102.5 kg ha^?1 day^?1 (high feeding level), and 49.8 and 82.9 kg ha^?1 day^?1 in the linear feeding strategy. Significantly better growth rates and feed conversion rates were obtained in the progressive feeding strategy. Average extrapolated net pond production was highest at R_pr=6% body weight day^?1 (10.61 ha^?1, year^?1). It was concluded that cottonseed cake contributed to tilapia growth mainly directly as a tilapia feed rather than indirectly as a pond fertilizer via algal production. Finally, the appropriateness of the metabolic feeding rate R_mb(BW^0.8 day^?1) was discussed, compared with the progressive feeding rate R_pr (%BW day^?1). (BW denotes body weight). A practical, two-step linear feeding method was proposed for cottonseed cake as a ‘rule of thumb’ that is workable in the field.     

Pond farming of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), in northern Cameroon. Mixed culture of large tilapia (> 200 g) with cattle manure and cottonseed cake as pond inputs, and African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell), as police-fish

An experiment was conducted with tilapia-catfish polyculture at the Lagdo Fisheries Station in northern Cameroon. The objectives were: 1. To estimate the effect of supplementary cottonseed cake on net pond production in ponds already receiving dried cattle manure as basic treatment: and 2. To study the performance of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell). in recruitment control of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.). Recruitment control is essential in obtaining large tilapia sizes demanded in the market. Cottonseed cake, the most important agricultural by-product in the region, is expensive. Dried cattle manure may be collected free from corrals deserted by pastoral ethnic groups. Three treatments were tested in duplo in six earthen ponds of 525 m² each; treatment A. daily application of dried cattle manure only (266 kg ha^?1 day^?1); treatment B, daily manure + cottonseed at a nominal daily rate of 3% of tilapia biomass: treatment C, daily manure + cottonseed cake at 6% of tilapia biomass. Stocking densities per pond were 250 male Nile tilapia (mean W_o 222 g), 150 female tilapia (W₀= 202 g), 30 ‘large’ African catfish (W_o= 198 g); and 30 ‘small’ catfish (W₀= 52 g). Mean fish densities were 0.76 tilapia m^?2 and 0.11 catfish m^?2. Application of dried manure and cottonseed cake was 6 days per week, and the culture period was 100 days. Fish were sampled every month and feeding rates were adjusted accordingly. Dissolved oxygen content and algal turbidity (Secchi disc) were measured once a week. Extrapolated net pond productions, including recruits, were: -0.41 ha^?1 year^?1 (treatment A); 4.8 t ha^?1 year^?1 (treatment B) and 6.5 t ha^?1 year^?1 (treatment C). Differences between treatments B and C were not significant(P < 0.05). Fertilization with dried cattle manure only (zero cottonseed cake) led to a negative net pond production in treatment A (negative net tilapia production but slightly positive net catfish production). Dried manure at the given application rate did not contribute sufficient nutrients to maintain the stocked fish biomass via enhanced natural production, while pond biomass was high for such an extensive system (manure only). Best fish growth was observed in treatment C (male tilapia, 0.9 gday^?1: large catfish, 6.9 g day^?1) although differences between treatments B and C were not significant. Growth of male and female was not significantly different, but growth rates of tilapia and catfish were significantly different (P & lt; 0.05). Average yields of tilapia recruits in treatment B (1539 kg ha^?1 year^?1) and C (1829 kg ha^?1year^?1) were about four times the average yield of recruits in treatment A (468 kg ha^?1 year^?1) but differences between treatments A, B and C were not significant. It was sugcess, or the reproductive efficiency of tilapia in treatment A could have been lower as a result of that treatment. However, clouds of up-swimming fry appeared to be at least as numerous in the replicate ponds of treatment A as in the ponds of treatments B and C.     

A partial economic analysis for Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus L. and sharptoothed catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822) polyculture in central Kenya

Aquaculture development in Kenya has been hampered by lack of targeted feeds. Chemical fertilizers can enhance natural food production and thus indirectly provide protein to complement energy-rich cereal brans used as feed. Consequently, an experiment was conducted at Sagana Fish Farm in central Kenya to realize least-cost combinations of rice bran and fertilizer. Twelve 800 m² (0.08 ha) ponds were stocked with juvenile (32 g) Oreochromis niloticus L. at 2 m⁻² and Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822) (fingerlings of 4.6 g) at 0.2 m⁻². Four treatments, calculated to approximate isonitrogenous conditions, were applied in triplicate as follows: (1) urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP) to provide 16 kg of N ha⁻¹ week⁻¹ and 4 kg of P ha⁻¹ week⁻¹; (2) urea and DAP applied to give 8 kg of N ha⁻¹ week⁻¹ and 2 kg of P ha⁻¹ week⁻¹, plus rice bran fed at 60 kg ha⁻¹ day⁻¹; (3) rice bran fed at 120 kg ha⁻¹ day⁻¹; (4) rice bran as in treatment 3 and fertilizer as in treatment 2. Ponds were sampled monthly to measure fish growth, and drained completely after 20 weeks. A partial economic analysis indicated minimal net profits of K.Sh. 18 851 (US$ 251), K.Sh. 9895 (US$ 132), K.Sh. 3299 (US$ 44) and K.Sh. 7015 (US$ 94) for treatments 1–4, respectively, because of high feed and seed costs.     

The case for the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus Burchell, 1822, Clariidae: a comparison of the relative merits of Tilapiine fishes, especially Oreochromis niloticus (L.) and C. gariepinus Burchell, for African aquaculture

Abstract. The relative merits of tilapiine fishes, especially Oreochromis niloticus (L.) and Clarias gariepinus Burchell, are compared with respect to their suitability for aquaculture in Africa. Reproductive, nutritional and production data are drawn where possible from work carried out under African conditions.
In view of the fact that African aquaculture is insignificant in terms of worldwide production and in terms of local fish consumption it is suggested that a broader view of species choice might be adopted in relation to aquaculture projects.
The African catfish, by virtue of its suitable reproductive strategy, its nutritional efficiency and its ability to breath atmospheric oxygen, clearly represents an excellent candidate for aquaculture in Africa.     

Optimum histidine requirement of fry African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell)

Dietary histidine requirement of fry African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (2.57 ± 0.02 cm; 0.22 ± 0.03 g) was quantified by feeding casein–gelatin-based isonitrogenous (40% crude protein) and isocaloric (17.90 kJ g⁻¹ gross energy) amino acid test diets with graded levels of histidine (0.25%, 0.30%, 0.35%, 0.40%, 0.45% and 0.50% dry diet) in eighteen 80 L indoor circular aqua-coloured troughs provided with the flow-through system for 12 weeks. Maximum absolute weight gain (2.66), best feed conversion ratio (1.29), highest protein efficiency ratio (1.94), protein retention efficiency (34%) and energy retention efficiency (70.4%) were achieved at 0.40% dietary histidine. Broken-line and non-linear regression models were adopted to assess dietary histidine requirement for C. gariepinus . When analysed using broken-line regression model these parameters were also best at 0.40% dietary histidine corresponding to 1.0% protein, respectively, whereas using second-degree polynomial regression analysis, histidine requirement was obtained at 0.42%, 0.41%, 0.40%, 0.41% and 0.41% of dry diet, corresponding to 1.05%, 1.02%, 1.0%, 1.02% and 1.02% protein respectively. Based on the broken-line and second-degree polynomial regression analyses of the growth and nutrient retention data, optimum histidine requirement of fry C. gariepinus was found to be in the range of 0.40–0.42% dry diet, corresponding to 1.0–1.05% of dietary protein.     

Digestive capabilities of three commensal fish species: carp, Cyprinus carpio L., tilapia, Oreochromis aureus×O. niloticus, and African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822)

Abstract. This paper examines the digestibility of different feed mixtures by three species of fish: carp, Cyprinus carpio L., tilapia, Oreochromis aureus × O. niloticus , and African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822). Protein from poultry sources was digested better by tilapia than by carp or catfish, but no significant difference was found in the case of protein mainly from fish meal. Carp showed the best ability to digest fats, followed by catfish, with tilapia having the least ability. Tilapia digested carbohydrate better than the other two species, however, whether from wheat or corn sources. The same pattern applies to the digestibility of energy.     

Nicotinic acid supplementation of diets for the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell)

Semi-purified diets containing 39% crude protein and 5% lipid were used to identify the qualitative requirement of African cattish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell), for niacin and to characterize the pathologies associated with a deficiency of this vitamin. After 48 days of feeding, C. gariepinus supplied with the unsupplemented diet had developed severe deficiency symptoms and were subsequently withdrawn from the growth study. Niacin deficiency was characterized by feed refusal, listlessness, weight loss, poor feed utilization and high mortality. The skin overlaying the lateral line of the deficient fish became haemorrhagic and this clinical sign was accompanied by severe anaemia. After 126 days of feeding, fish fed diets containing 17.0 mg niacin kg^?1 had also developed a dermopathy. but without anaemia or high mortality. The feeding of diets containing less than 33.1 mg niacin kg^?1 resulted in suboptimal feed efficiency and poor protein utilisation. Allometric analysis of proximate composition indicated that carcass moisture, protein and ash were influenced by fish size, and not by dietary niacin content. However, significantly more lipid per unit of weight gain was deposited in the carcasses of fish fed the unsupplemented diet than in fish fed diets containing 17.0mgkg^?1. The indicators used in the present study could not be applied to accurately determine a value for niacin requirement. However, until a more accurate assessment is performed, it is recommended that diets for C. gariepinus contain not less than 33.1 mg nicotinic acid kg^?1 feed.     

Controlled hatchery production of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell): an overview

Abstract In order to promote the successful supply and satisfactory survival of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell), it is advocated that the fish be reared in hatcheries until they begin air breathing. Research conducted over a number of years to develop culture technology for intensive hatchery rearing to the stage of air breathing is brought together here as an overview. In particular, the definition of early development stages is considered as well as induced spawning, egg incubation, larval rearing and fry rearing.     

Effect of extenders on sperm cryopreservation of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell)

The effect of extenders was studied on the cryopreservation of sperm from African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell). The following six basic extenders were tested: fructose, glucose, sucrose, NaCl, KCl solutions and the artificial seminal plasma of the African catfish. Each of these extenders was tested both with and without buffer systems (i.e. NaHCO₃-CO₂ and Tris-HCl) by using 10% dimethyl-sulphoxide (DMSO) as a cryoprotectant. The two-step freezing was carried out in a programmable freezer by using the following freezing rates: (1) 4 °C min^–1 between 3 and –4 °C; (2) and 11 °C min^–1 between –4 and –80 °C. The best post-thaw motility (25%) was achieved with 333 mmol L^–1 fructose solution and NaHCO₃ buffer. The fertilization experiments were carried out with unbuffered fructose and glucose extenders using various amounts of sperm and two fertilization methods: (1) dry and (2) wet. The best fertilization rates were achieved with 75 μL of sperm and wet fertilization with glucose extender, or 100 μL of sperm and dry fertilization in case of fructose – both methods fertilized 96% of all eggs.     

Histopathological changes and tissue residue concentrations of monosex Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus,L) fries exposed to oxytetracycline

Aquaculture International - The current study evaluated the biosafety of oxytetracycline (OTC) exposure for 30&nbsp;days in monosex Oreochromis niloticus fries. The fries were exposed to OTC...     

Inherent variation in growth efficiency of African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) juveniles

Understanding the major causes of growth variation is crucial for the success of fish farming since its reduction contributes to maximize production efficiency, reduce food waste and improve water quality. The growth variation observed in aquaculture has been associated with the establishment of social hierarchies. However, some studies suggest that this variation may not be mainly a consequence of social hierarchies but mainly a result of inherent (genetic) differences. This study investigates the magnitude of individual responses, independently of group effects (fish housed individually), in growth efficiency and feeding behaviour of African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822). Despite the low variation in initial body weight (6.5%) and cumulative feed consumption (7.5%) over the experimental period, catfish exhibited high variation in final body weight (18.1%), specific growth rate (17.2%) and feed conversion ratio (27.9%), suggesting that individual variation in growth efficiency is important in determining growth rate. This individual variation may be related with individual differences in protein/fat deposition since faster growing fish deposited more protein and less fat than slower growing fish. Pronounced individual differences in feeding behaviour (reaction towards feed and time spent eating) were also observed and correlated with individual differences in growth efficiency. Fast eaters were the fast growers. We suggest that the growth variation observed in African catfish may be inherent and that the use of grading to increase uniformity should be further investigated.     

Overwintering performance of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (L.) broodfish and seed at ambient temperatures in northern Vietnam

Two experiments (E1 and E2) to assess the performance of tilapia broodstock and tilapia sex‐reversed fry in overwintering were conducted at the Research Institute for Aquaculture No.1 (RIA‐1) in the cold seasons of 1995–96 and 1996–97. Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (L.) broodstock of the Thai, GIFT, Egypt and Viet strains were overwintered in deep and shallow ponds, as well as in deep and shallow hapas suspended in a single deep pond for evaluation of the influence of overwintering systems on the survival and growth of fish. Large (> 1 g) and small (< 1 g) tilapia seed were overwintered in deep hapas‐in‐ponds for comparison of their performance. In 1995–96, the coldest pond water temperature was 10–11 °C, and survival of tilapia broodfish overwintered in deep and shallow hapas‐in‐ponds was 99.6–100%. This was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than fish stocked in deep and shallow ponds (74.4–90%). The survival rate of larger monosex tilapia fry was 54%, which was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of smaller fry (33.4%). In 1996–97, the lowest pond water temperature was 15.8 °C, and fry showed similarly high survival rates in all treatments (97–100%). There was no significant difference between fry in the two size classes. The results of this study clearly indicate that hapas‐in‐ponds are useful for reducing the risk and improving the survival of tilapia broodstock and fry in the cold season. Differences in the decline in ambient temperatures year on year mean that the need for special overwintering conditions varies. Hapas‐in‐ponds are a low‐cost overwintering method that can be one of the appropriate strategies for tilapia seed production under the variable, cool temperature regimes in northern Vietnam.     

The role of chicken manure in the production of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.)

Abstract. Two grow-out experiments were conducted to evaluate the functional role of chicken manure for Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.). production in central Thailand. Experiment 1 examined the relationship between chicken manure input and net fish yield (NFY). Experiment 2 determined the value of chicken manure in providing tilapia particulate organic carbon, and/or dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) for stimulating algal productivity. In both experiments supplemental urea and triple superphosphate (TSP) gave all treatments total nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) inputs of 28·0kg/ha/week and 7·0kg/ha/week, respectively.
Addition of chicken manure to inorganic fertilization did not enhance production of Nile tilapia. NFY in experiment 1 increased with decreasing manure loading, which corresponded to increasing TSP input. Regression analysis suggested that chicken manure-P was about 10% effective as TSP-P at increasing NFY. NFY was linearly correlated to net primary productivity (r²= 0·62, P < 0·001), which was linearly correlated to total alkalinity (r²= 0·77. P < 0·001).Treatment differences in alkalinity, community respiration or dissolved oxygen concentrations at dawn were not related to manure input. Simple economic comparisons discourage the purchase of chicken manure as a source of soluble N and P for increasing algal productivity in Thailand.     

Comparative digestion efficiencies in conventional, genetically improved and genetically male Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.)

Apparent digestibility of dry matter, protein, lipid and energy of a fishmeal‐based feed (41% crude protein, 9% crude lipid and 19 kJ g⁻¹ gross energy) was compared in genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT), genetically male Nile tilapia (GMNT) and conventional Nile tilapia (CNT) (Oreochromis niloticus). The experimental fish were reared individually under standardized conditions in a recirculation system at 27±0.1°C for 10 weeks. Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) was used as a marker. Faeces of individual fish were collected daily by siphoning and stored at −18°C before analysis. No significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in the digestibility coefficients of feed dry matter (78.2±3.4%, 77.7±4.4% and 76.4±3.7%), protein (87.9±3.0%, 88.4±2.8% and 88.0±3.3%), lipid (90.0±2.5%, 91.0±2.1% and 89.4±3.0%) and energy (90.4±1.9%, 90.7±2.0% and 89.4±2.3%) in GIFT, GMNT and CNT respectively. At the end of the experiment, there were no significant differences (P<0.05) in average percentage growth (82.2±7.2, 87.3±7.7 and 74.7±4.1 respectively for GIFT, GMNT and CNT), growth rates or feed utilization efficiencies between the three tilapia groups. We conclude that the higher growth claimed for improved GIFT and GMNT as compared with CNT, if ever existing, cannot be attributed to higher nutrients or energy digestibility.     

Approaches to optimizing dietary protein to energy ratio for African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted in a recycling water system at 28 ± 1 °C to investigate protein to energy ratio (P/E ratio) in African catfish Clarias gariepinus (10.9 ± 0.04 g). Six fishmeal‐based diets of two protein levels (330 and 430 g kg^?1), each with three lipid levels (40, 80 and 120 g kg^?1) resulted in P/E ratios ranging from 15.5 to 21.3 mg protein kJ^?1 gross energy (GE) were fed to 20 fish (per 30‐L tank) in triplicate. Fish were fed 50 g kg^?1 of their body weight per day adjusted fortnightly. Significantly higher (P < 0.05) growth rates and feed conversion efficiency were evident in fish fed with higher protein diet. The highest growth rate was found by fish fed 430 g kg^?1 protein, 21.2 kJ^?1 GE with a P/E ratio of 20.5 mg protein kJ^?1 GE. Significantly indifferent (P > 0.05) values of protein utilization were found in‐between the both (higher and lower) protein diets. Higher lipid deposition (P < 0.05) in whole body and liver was observed with increasing dietary lipid level at each protein diet and as higher (P < 0.05) for the lower protein diets. Liver glycogen tended to decrease with increasing gross energy at each protein diet and higher protein diet showed comparatively lower values (P > 0.05). Digestive enzyme activities (protease and lipase) and histological examination of intestine and liver of fish fed varying P/E diets found no significant differences in response to experimental diets. The study reveals that African catfish C. gariepinus performed best the diet containing 430 g kg^?1, 21.2 kJ g^?1 and 20.5 mg protein kJ g^?1 GE protein, gross energy and P/E ratio, respectively.     

Effect of temperature and phytoplankton concentration on Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (L.) filtration rate

Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (L.) held in timed‐pulse feeding chambers, were provided with algal‐rich water dominated by either green algae (Scenedesmus, Ankistrodesmus, Chlorella and Tetraedron) or cyanobacteria (Microcystis) to determine the effect of temperature and phytoplankton concentration on filtration rates. Green algae and cyanobacteria filtration rates were measured as suspended particulate organic carbon (POC) kg^?1 wet fish weight h^?1. Ivlev's filter‐feeding model described the relationships between filtration rates and suspended POC concentration of green algae and cyanobacteria. Filtration rates of both green algae and cyanobacteria increased linearly as water temperature increased from 17 °C to 32 °C and were significantly higher in the warm‐water regime (26–32 °C) than in the cool‐water regime (17–23 °C). Filtration rates at 95% saturation POC (FR₉₅) in green algal and cyanobacterial waters were 700 mg C kg^?1 h^?1 and 851 mg C kg^?1 h^?1 in the warm‐water regime and 369 mg C kg^?1 h^?1 and 439 mg C kg^?1 h^?1 in the cool‐water regime respectively. The FR₉₅ in warm water were achieved at lower POC concentrations than in cool water.     

A comparative study on the apparent digestibility of selected feedstuffs in hybrid catfish (Clarias macrocephalus × Clarias gariepinus) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

The apparent digestibility (AD) of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP) and essential amino acids (EAA) in five selected feedstuffs was evaluated in hybrid catfish and Nile tilapia. The AD of DM, OM and CP in cassava leaf meal (CLM) was lower (P < 0.05) than in groundnut meal (GNM), soybean meal (SBM), sesame husk meal (SSH) and shrimp head meal (SHM). The AD of DM, OM and CP among GNM, SBM, SSH and SHM was not different (P > 0.05). The AD of most EAA was higher in SSH (P < 0.05) than in CLM, GNM, SBM and SHM. The AD of most EAA among CLM, GNM, SBM and SHM was not different (P > 0.05). The AD of DM and OM in CLM was higher (P < 0.05) in hybrid catfish than in Nile tilapia, while there was no difference in the AD of CP in CLM between fish species. The AD of DM, OM, CP and EAA among GNM, SBM, SSH and SHM did not differ between hybrid catfish and Nile tilapia. In conclusion, there were only small differences in the nutritional properties between the selected feedstuffs in both fish species. Most EAA in the selected feedstuffs were equally well utilized by hybrid catfish and Nile tilapia.     

Toxicity of four commonly used chemotherapeutic compounds to fry of the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell)

Acute toxicity tests were carried out for four compounds commonly used against various fish pathogens to determine their 24-h LC₅₀ values to fry of the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell). Compounds tested and their calculated 24-h LC₅₀ values (mg l^?1) were as follows: praziquantel (13.4); malachite green oxalate (0.14); acriflavin neutral (10.0); and mebendazole (315). The results show that dosage levels of malachite green oxalate, praziquantel and acriflavin neutral recommended in the literature for the control of most fish ectoparasitoses caused substantial mortalities and cannot be applied to Clarias gariepinus fry.