GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND NUTRIENT UTILIZATION OF NILE TILAPIA (OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS) JUVENILES FED DUCKWEED-ENRICHED FEED
Abstract
The present study evaluates the impact of duckweed (lemna minor) on the growth performance and nutrient utilization of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) juveniles with initial weight of 4.00g and 6.00cm length were allocated into fifteen tanks with a density of 20 fish per tank. Fish were fed five experimental diets containing 20%, 15%, 10%, 5% and 0%(control) duckweed inclusion for 8 weeks. The result after 8 weeks showed that fish fed with 15% duckweed inclusion had better value for growth parameters; had the highest weight gain of (9.90+0.28), specific growth rate of (1.97+0.00) but the lowest FCR of (1.21+0.00). Fish fed 5% duckweed inclusion contrarily had the least weight gain of (5.73+0.33), specific growth rate of (1.43+0.00) but highest FCR of (2.10+0.00).The feed intake was not significantly different across the five treatments (P>0.05).The carcass weight of the experimental fish showed that there was a significant difference (P0.05) recorded between the means. This study implied that inclusion of duckweed at 15% has a positive effect on Oreochromis niloticus juveniles.
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