Aims: To evaluate the proximate composition and mineral contents of edible part of four species of shellfishes (Callinectes amnicola, Thais coronata, Tympanotonus fuscatus and Egeria radiata) from the Calabar River, Nigeria.
This study was aimed to investigate the effect of Buchholcia coriacea on the masculinization of Oreochromis niloticus. Five days old mixed sex of O. niloticus (mean weight 0.2g, mean length 0.45mm) were subjected to powdered B. coriacea seeds meal (BSM) at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10g/kg twice daily for 1 month in an indoor experimental plastic basin capacity (50cm in diameter and 30cm deep) in duplicates with a total of six treatments in a complete randomized design. After which there were later fed with a normal diet in an outdoor concrete tank of size 1m3 for another one month. One way ANOVA and LSD were used to analyze the experimental data. The result obtained in this study showed that fish fed with 4g/kg BSM powdered BSM had the highest number (83.33%) of males which was significantly higher (p<0.05) compared to all other treatments categories. The highest survival rate (100%) was recorded in fish fed with 6g/kg BSM. The highest mean length, mean weight and weight gain observed are 0.488mm, 4.68g, and 4.65g respectively. The result of the histology showed that B. coriacea altered the sex of O. niloticus due to the presence of a hormone called dopamine in the kola. Conclusively, B. coriacea showed potential reproduction control in Oreochromis niloticus.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the floating and stability of fish feed pellets formulated with different concentration of Baobab (Adansonia digitata) leaf meal (BLM). Five isonitrogenous fish feed (35% CP) with varying inclusion levels of Baobab leaf meal (0% BLM, 4% BLM, 8% BLM, 12% BLM and 16% BLM designated as D1, D2, D3, D4 and D5 respectively was used. Ten (10) pellets of each experimental feed were placed in plastic beaker (55 x 25 x 30 cm) for 50 minutes. Feed pellet floatability and stability were recorded every five minutes. Results showed that feed pellet floatability increased significantly (P<0.05) with increase in BLM concentration. Highest feed pellet floatability (41.66 ± 2.88 minutes) was recorded in D5 (16% BLM) and least (0.00 ± 0.00 minutes) in D1 (0% BLM) which sank down immediately. Similarly, feed pellet stability increased significantly (P<0.05) with increase in BLM concentration. Highest pellet stability (42.66 ± 1.17 minutes) was recorded for D5 (16% BLM) and least (18.54 ± 2.10 minutes) in D1 (0% BLM). Based on these findings, it is concluded that 16% BLM inclusion level in fish feed has led to a high pellet floatability and stability. Therefore, Baobab leaf meal (BLM) which is relatively cheap, toxic free, easy to process and available specifically in Northern part of Nigeria is recommended for floating feed formulation.
Probiotics are supplements that impose health benefits to the host fish when applied at the right amount. Probiotics stabilizes the microbial population of the fish's gastrointestinal tract through elimination of pathogenic microbes and increased digestibility and bioavailability of nutrients required for optimal growth and good health. Fish farmers and fish consumer also benefits from probiotics application in several ways such as improved growth, carcass and flesh quality, boosting of immune system, high survival rate and reduced malformations. Farmers should be encouraged to include probiotics in feed in order to enjoy the corresponding benefits it presents
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