Abstract

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 (cornfibre, cornstarch 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 starch and glucose spared protein for growth while corn fibre did not.

Key words: Clarias gariepinus, protein sparing, carbohydrate sources.