Growth, nutrient utilization and body composition of juvenile bagrid catfish, Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (Actinopterygii: Siluriformes: Claroteidae), fed different dietary crude protein levels

• Published in: Acta ichthyologica et piscatoria 2009-01, Vol.39 (2), p.95-101
• Main Authors: Adewolu, M.A.,Lagos State University, Lagos (Nigeria). Dept of Fisheries, Benfey, T.J.,University of New Brunswick, New Brunswick (Canada). Dept of Biology
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ALIMENTACION DE PECES; ALIMENTATION DES POISSONS; bagrid catfish; BAGRIDAE; BESOIN NUTRITIONNEL; CHEMICAL COMPOSITION; CHRYSICHTHYS NIGRODIGITATUS; COMPOSICION QUIMICA; COMPOSITION CHIMIQUE; CONTENIDO PROTEICO; CRUDE PROTEIN; DIET; DIETA; FISH; FISH FEEDING; FISIOLOGIA DE LA NUTRICION; GROWTH RATE; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_15903; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_16130; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_1794; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_2261; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_24013; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_2922; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_40741; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_40774; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_5275; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_5277; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_6251; INDICE DE CRECIMIENTO; NECESIDADES DE NUTRIENTES; NUTRITION PHYSIOLOGY; NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS; PESCADO; PHYSIOLOGIE DE LA NUTRITION; POISSON (ALIMENT); PROTEIN CONTENT; PROTEINA BRUTA; PROTEINE BRUTE; REGIME ALIMENTAIRE; TAUX DE CROISSANCE; TENEUR EN PROTEINES
• ISSN: 0137-1592; 1734-1515
• DOI: 10.3750/AIP2009.39.2.03

The African bagrid catfish, Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (Lacepede, 1803), is an omnivorous species because of its good growth rate, excellent taste, and high market demand. The effects of varying dietary crude protein levels on growth, nutrient utilization and body composition of juvenile C. nigrodigitatus were determined. One hundred and twenty fish with an initial mean weight of 21.33 +- 0.48 g were divided randomly among 12 tanks for triplicate groups that were fed diets containing 20 percent, 25 percent, 30 percent, and 35 percent crude protein (CP). Fish fed the 35 percent CP diet had the best growth performance and nutrient utilization. The least weight gain (32.1 percent +- 0.9 percent) and poorest FCR and PER (5.70 +- 0.06 and 0.87 +- 0.01, respectively) were observed in fish fed the 20 percent CP diet. Body protein content was not affected by diet, but body lipid increased significantly with increasing dietary protein levels