Effect on starvation period on growth performance and body composition of african catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of starvation period on growth performance and body composition of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus. Fishes were fed to satiation twice a day for two weeks. After that, the fishes were starved for 30 days frequency of sampling. The result indicated that the condition factor and hepatosomatic index start decrease of the fish start decrease on day 7 and day 17 the fish starved respectively. However the survival rates for all treatments were not significantly different throughout this study. For the body composition, the lipid content decrease on day 5 the fish starved which is earlier than protein content which is start decrease on day 7 the fishes starved. The lipid content in muscle B (body muscle except around abdomen) and liver decreases first on day 5 than followed by and muscle A (muscle around abdomen) on day 30 the fishes srtarved. While the protein content in muscle A decrease first on day 7 and followed by muscle B on day 24 whereas there is no depletion on liver protein during 30 days starvation period