Culture Pond Influences the Growth and Survival of Clarias gariepinus Fingerlings reared in Poly and Monoculture

Abstract

Monoculture is the rearing of single species of fish in a pond while polyculture is the farming of two or more species in the same physical space. This study aims to compare the growth parameters of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings in monoculture and polyculture, using concrete and earthen ponds in a randomized complete block design. The polyculture, comprised of Clarias gariepinus and Oreochromis niloticus. 480 fingerlings were used; the stocking density was 40fish in a 3x2x1.5m depth with initial weight (4.84±0.11547) for C. gariepinus in monoculture and 40 each in polyculture with an initial pooled weight of O. niloticus (50g) replicated thrice, it was fed for eight weeks with commercial feed (40% crude protein). Weekly, random sampling was done to measure the growth and adjust the feeding rate. The results revealed that polyculture has the best mean final weight (160.07±0.18559g) and weight gain of 155.29, while the highest total length (45.666±3.179) was recorded in monoculture for Clarias gariepinus reared in an earthen pond. The polyculture had the highest specific growth rate (2.46), Relative growth rate (246.49), and condition factor (0.184). There was a significant difference (P<0.05) in monoculture of both concrete and earthen ponds.