Can Powdered Microencapsulated Whole Egg, Ulva lactuca and Grasshopper Improve Growth Performance and Economic Viability of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Fry?

Abstract

Clarias gariepinus fry requires feed that is rich in protein and essential fatty acid, butprotein-rich feed is quite expensive especially when derived from animal origin. Thepresent study aims to find less expensive feed for fry affordable for C. gariepinusfarmers. About 3600 fries (Weight =1.49±0.03 mg) produced artificially, were stockedin twenty-four plastic containers (measuring 30×35×24cm). The containers weredivided into eight treatments (T0 to T7) in triplicate. Seven different powdered feeds F1to F7 (prepared from Ulva lactuca, Grasshopper and chicken egg) were respectively fedto the fry in the seven treatments T1 to T7 against Artemia Shell free as a control (T0)for two weeks. The results obtained revealed significant differences in terms of growthand economic response among the experimental treatments (P