A static bioassay experiment was set up to investigate effects of acute (96-hrLC50) concentrations of aqueous leaf extracts of Gongronema latifolium on behaviourial and haematological characteristics of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) juveniles. Evaluation of toxicity of leaf extracts at concentrations of: 0, 10, 25, 50, 75, and 100mg/l was done at various time intervals on the fish. A total of 180 catfish juveniles with average initial weight of 8.37±1.36g and total length of 12.10±2.45cm were used. The fish were distributed among the treatments on complete randomized design. Each treatment had three replicates. The results showed that aqueous leaf extracts were toxic to experimental fish. There was an observed erratic movement, colour change from black to ash-brown and dark coloured belly of treated fish. There were slight changes in water quality parameters, with no significant effect (p>0.05) on the tolerance level of fish on G. latifolium leaf extracts. Mean values of 96-hrLC50 were 90.14mg/l and 2.78mg/l for the upper and lower limits while the threshold value was 0.26mg/l. Phyto-chemical analysis of the leaves showed constituents of flavonoids, saponins, tannins, anthrocyanide, alkaloids and glycosides. Effects of aqueous extracts on haematological indices revealed increasing values of pack cell volume, haemoglobin, white blood cell, red blood cell, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular heamoglobin and mean corpuscular heamoglobin concentration counts with extract concentration. Thus, G. latifolium could be used as feed additive for improved fish production at concentration below 70%. Keywords: Gongronema latifolium, leaf extracts, behaviour, haematology, Clarias gariepinus
The study investigated effects of replacing maize meal with cassava stem meal on growth performance and haematology of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) fingerlings. Cassava stem meal (CSM) was substituted for maize at 0% (control), 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% to produce five isonitrogenous (45% CP) diets. C. gariepinus fingerlings (mean weight 3.08±0.02g) were randomly distributed into concrete tanks (0.9m3) at 10 fish/tank in triplicates and fed twice daily for 8 weeks. Results showed the highest mean weight gain (1.72±0.01g) and the best food conversion ratio (0.08±0.01) in fish fed diet containing 25% CSM which were significantly different (p<0.05) from other treatments. Fish fed 100% CSM recorded the highest value for protein efficiency ratio which differed significantly (p<0.05) from other treatments. The highest survival rate of (73.3±0.01%) was recorded in fish fed 50% and 100% cassava stem meal inclusion levels while the lowest (33.4±0.01%) was observed in the control diet. The haematological results showed that packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC) and haemoglobin (Hb) were significantly different (p<0.05) among treatments. There was an increase in the counts of PCV, white blood cell, Hb, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin while mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration remained constant in all the treatments. The study revealed that 25% substitution rate of maize with cassava stem meal would not have any adverse effect on the growth and blood parameters of catfish. Key words: Cassava stems meal, fish growth, nutrient utilization, haematology, C. gariepinus
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