COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF Clarias gariepinus (BURCHELL 1822) FINGERLINGS FED FRESH AND DRIED Musca domestica MAGGOTS

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the growth performance of Clarias gariepinus post-fingerlings fed fresh and dried Musca domestica larva. The M. domestica maggots were produced from poultry droppings and harvested using the screening method. After blanching, some of it was preserved by refrigeration and the rest were processed by drying at 60ºC for 6 hours. The C. gariepinus post-fingerlings were fed whole fresh and dried maggots Ad libitum twice daily in triplicate groups for 56 days. The results of the final weight (g) of fish recorded no significant difference (p>0.05) in the fish fed fresh maggots (23.59 ± 3.29) and those fed dried maggots (20.16 ± 5.83). The same trend was recorded in the percentage weight gain. Results also showed that there is significant difference (p<0.05) in the feed conversion ratio of fish fed fresh maggots (4.06 ± 0.28) and fish fed the dried maggots (1.87 ± 0.73). The protein efficiency ratio of the fish fed fresh maggots (1.52 ± 0.21) and the fish fed dried maggots (0.96 ± 0.28) were not significant (p>0.05). However, the percentage survival was higher in the fish fed fresh maggots (93%) than the fish fed the dried maggots (70%), although not significantly different (p>0.05). The use of Musca domestica larva appears to have a positive effect on growth performance and cost efficiency in feeding of C. gariepinus, however, for optimum growth and feed utilization, it appears
best to be used as supplementary feed.