NOVEL FEED FOR FINGERLINGS OF OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS

Abstract

A five week study was to observe the performance of Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings stocked in hapas and fed on Mango leave meal a pond. Oreochromis niloticus of average weight 8.49 g were fed with mango leaves and compared to farm feed. Fish fed on the farm feed recorded significantly higher weight, 20.73 g than fish fed on the Mango leaves with an average weight of 11.23 g. Mean weight gain, specific growth rate and survival rates were higher for fish feed the farm feed but not significantly different as feed conversion ratio was higher and significantly different among treatments. It cost less to produce a kilogram of Mango leave meal than that of farm feed. Temperature, turbidity and pH were not adversely affected by the use of Mango leaves. Mango leaves can be used as supplementary feed and incorporated in the formulation of farm feed for the raising O. niloticus.