UTILIZATION OF PLANT MATERIALS BY JUVENILE AFRICAN CATFISH (CLARIAS GARIEPINUS) AND ITS IMPORTANCE IN FISH CULTURE

Abstract

Juvenile African catfish Clarias gariepinus between 100 and 200 mm total length from Lake McIlwaine, Zimbabwe are able to digest plant proteins. The digestibility of three major plant proteins (maize, sunflower seed and soya meal) was 30,0, 65,4 and 84,3% respectively. C. gariepinus excreted between 27 and 55% of its soluble nitrogen as urea. Fats from one diet were found to spare proteins and to be 73% utilized.