Effects of carbohydrate sources on the growth and body compositions of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Feeding trial was conducted to examine the protein sparing effects of carbohydrate in Clarias gariepinus, an attempt to reduce the feed cost. C. gariepinus fingerlings mean weights of 8.32 ±0.04 g were randomly allotted into a group of 15 fishes per tank in triplicate of 10 treatments. They were fed on nine experimental diets and a commercial catfish reference diet (CRD). The formulated diets have three levels of carbohydrate (5, 10 and 20%) of three carbohydrate sources (corn fibre, corn starch and glucose) and three levels of crude protein (30, 25 and 20%). The results of the trial showed significant differences (P<0.05) in all the carbohydrate sources fed to C. gariepinus at different levels of carbohydrate/ protein ratios. However, of the three carbohydrate sources, corn fibre spared protein at 5% inclusion levels while other carbohydrate sources gave significantly same degree of performance. Key words: Protein sparing, carbohydrate sources, Clarias gariepinus.