Abstract:
This study was conducted to determine the effect of feeding frequency patterns on the growth parameters of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings. Four hundred and eighty ( 480) African catfish fingerlings were reared under two different feeding patterns. Fingerlings under first feeding patterns (P 1) were fed during day-light and for fingerlings under two feeding patterns (P2) were fed on full-day basis. Both feeding patterns have different feeding frequencies; one time feeding, two times feeding, three times feeding and four times feeding. The daily amount food consumed was found to be affected directly by both feeding frequency and food deprivation time. Based on the results, the growth rate was found to be lower in fingerlings fed once daily, while as the feeding frequency increase. The growth rates of fish in P2 were always higher than those of fish in P 1• When the feeding frequency patterns were practiced, the food conversion ratio increase and the results ranged from 0.9504 - 1.3598. The percentage of consumed food that used for basic metabolism and growth increased with feeding frequency for both P 1 and P2. However, the gross efficiency was reduced with frequency increase. The best value of gross efficiency is 0.966 which fingerlings fed twice daily at day-light basis. Within these results, the optimum feeding frequency was determined and the maximum growth rate is obtained. A value energy budget occurs.
