Prospects of an Alternative Fish (Clarias gariepinus) Growth Booster, Based on Watermelon (Citrillus lanatus)

Aims: The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the potentials of newly formulated watermelon syrup booster compared to a commercial syrup booster on growth performance, nutrient utilization and survival of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings.

Study Design: This study employs laboratory experimental design, statistical analysis and interpretation of data.

Place and Duration of Study: Newly formulated watermelon syrup booster was obtained from a private fish firm (ISitor Agromed), commercial syrup booster (LEE GROW) and fish feed (SKRETTING) were purchased in a commercial feed store at Rumuokoro in Port Harcourt. Clarias gariepinus fingerlings used in this study were obtained from a private fish farm (Sokari Integrated Farms and Services) in Port Harcourt and conveyed in a 10- liter rectangular plastic aquarium to the departmental laboratory of Animal and Environmental Biology, Rivers State University. The duration of study lasted for eight weeks (56 days) from November 1st to December 26th, 2017.

Methodology: One hundred and eighty fingerlings of Clarias gariepinus were evenly allocated to nine rectangular aquaria, the fish were acclimated for one week after which initial weights and lengths were measured prior to commencement with treatment diets. The basal diet (commercial feed) were coated with the boosters at 2 ml kg-1, air dried for twenty minutes according to commercial recommendation and fed to the fish for eight weeks at 10% body weight.

Results: Fish fed with both booster diets showed significantly improved growth performance and feed utilization compared to fish fed with only basal diet (control). The best growth was observed in the group fed with watermelon syrup booster diet with initial weights of 1.77 ± 0.17 g to final weight 38.23 ± 4.26 g and initial length of 4.9 ± 0.08 cm to final length of 16.63 ± 0.95 cm compared to the commercial syrup booster with initial weight 1.84 ± 0.51 g to final weight of 31.27 ± 13.43 g and initial length of 4.73 ± 0.26 cm to final length 16.16 ± 1.64 cm. The variables of PER 20.32 ± 0.08, FCE 9.53 ± 0.03 and Feed Intake 3.82 ± 0.42 were higher in group fed watermelon syrup booster diet compared to the commercial syrup booster diet and basal diet only (control). The condition factor, K, in group fed watermelon syrup booster diet (0.83 ± 0.07) and commercial syrup booster diet (0.70 ± 0.13) were not significantly different (P=0.05). Percentage survival was also higher in group fed watermelon syrup booster diet (56.66 ± 7.63) compare to commercial syrup booster diet (53.33 ± 7.63) with the least survival at commercial diet only (51.66 ± 2.88), however showing no significant difference at P=0.05.

Conclusion: This study established watermelon syrup booster as an alternative growth enhancer for Clarias gariepinus.