Abstract:
This study was conducted to find the optimum weaning time of African catfish larvae, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) on two different artificial diets. Two artificial diets were formulated for this study, which are based on fish meal and fish meal added with shrimp head meal diet, this two artificial diet was formulated to 40% protein. After hatching, 1170 larvae of African catfish were stocked into 39 1-litre aquarium. Depending the treatment group, the day of feeding Artemia were 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9 or 14 days. After this period, the treatment groups were gradually weaned to the artificial diet. The experiment was ended after 14 days and the treatment groups were compared on the specific growth rate and survival rate. Larvae that feed based on fish meal (0 day of Artemia feeding) have higher significant different (P<0.05) in specific growth rate. While, larvae that feed with fish meal added with shrimp head meal (0 day of Artemia feeding) also have a high specific growth rate. However, larvae that feed based on fish meal and larvae that feed with fish meal added with shrimp head meal (0 day of Artemia feeding) have a lower significant different (P<0.05) in survival rate. In conclusion, the optimum weaning time when using fish meal based-diet is 7 day of Artemia feeding. While, when using fish meal added with shrimp head meal diet the optimum weaning time is 5 day of Artemia feeding. So, for the culture of African catfish, the period of Artemia feeding can be reduced considerably without any loss in terms of growth and survival when shrimp head meal was added in African catfish larvae diet.
