The Effect of Partial Replacement of Fishmeal with Citrullus lanatus and Moringa oleifera Seed Meals on Growth Performance of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) Juveniles

Four experimental diets were formulated to contain Citrullus lanatus, Moringa oleifera seed meal, Citrullus lanatus and Moringa oleifera seed meals as partial replacement for fishmeal (Treatment 2, 3 and 4 respectively) and Treatment 1 as control, which included fishmeal and soy bean meal as the protein sources. The fed were to one hundred and twenty (120) African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) of mean weight of 25±5.0 g and mean length of 14±2.0 cm in replicates for 10 weeks growth period. The results obtained showed that fish fed treatment 3 had highest mean weigh gain. More so, treatment 1 had the highest percentage weight gain and specific growth rate. Treatment 4 had the highest food conversion ratio and treatment 1 had the highest length increase. The result of the economic analysis of the four treatments showed the treatment 4 and 3 are the cheapest while treatment 1 is the most expensive. All the treatment diets showed that growth due to the different protein sources were not significant (p>0.05). The result of this study therefore revealed that partial replacement of fishmeal with Moringa oleifera seed meal can be used in the diet of Clarias gariepinus juveniles.