Applied Research Frontiers
Title
Growth Performance and Survival Rate of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Juveniles Fed Probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus) Based Diets
Authors
Adelodun O.B.,*a Olubode T.P.,b Rafiu R.A.a and Bankole A.F.a
aDepartment of Fisheries Technology, Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, Nigeria.
bDepartment of Science Laboratory Technology, Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author E-mail address: adelodunoluwatobi@yahoo.com (Adelodun O.B.)
Article History
Publication details: Received: 05th April 2023; Revised: 10th April 2023; Accepted: 10th April 2023; Published: 30th April 2023
Cite this article
Adelodun O.B.; Olubode T.P.; Rafiu R.A.; Bankole A.F. Growth Performance and Survival Rate of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Juveniles Fed Probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus) Based Diets. Appl. Res. Front., 2023, 2(4), 36-38.
Abstract
The effect of probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus) on the growth performance and survival rate of Clarias gariepinus juveniles was examined. Four experimental diets (diet 1, 2, 3 and 4) were formulated to contain 0, 1.5 x 108 Cfu/g, 3.0 x 108 Cfu/g and 4.5 x 108 Cfu/g of probiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus) isolated from yoghurt. A total of two hundred and forty (240) African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) juveniles of average body weight of 7.1g ± 0.54g were used for this study. Each treatment diet was replicated thrice with 20 juveniles per container. The fish were fed twice daily at 5% body weight for 56 days. After the feeding trial, the results showed that the weight gain significantly increased (p < 0.05) with the inclusion probiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus). The highest average weight gain (29.53 ± 0.73) was observed in juveniles fed diet 3 (3.0 x 108 Cfu/g). Fish fed diet 3 and diet 2 had protein efficiency ratio of 2.23 g ± 0.18 and 2.12 g ± 0.14 respectively which are significantly higher than other test diets. The lowest feed conversion ratio (1.13 ± 0.04) was also recorded in fish fed diet 3. The study revealed that the survival rate increased with increase in probiotic inclusion, as the highest was recorded in fish fed diet 4 (85%). Based on the results, the study concluded that supplementation of probiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus) in fish feed at an optimum inclusion level improved growth performance and survival rate of Clarias gariepinus juveniles.
Keywords
African Catfish; Probiotic; juveniles; growth; survival rate