Author(s) :

Machiavel Kitu Matufwene, Willy Swana Lusasi, Victor Kiamfu Pwema.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential for rearing Schilbe sp fingerlings in above-ground tanks using feed made from locally available agro-industrial byproducts in the city of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. During the experiment, the physicochemical quality of the water in the rearing facility was assessed by measuring pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, and turbidity. To monitor fish growth, several zootechnical parameters and indices were evaluated after 60 days of experimentation. The results obtained show that the average values of the physicochemical parameters (pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, and turbidity) measured in the water of the tanks meet the ecological requirements for fish growth in aquaculture. Observations on fish growth (average weight, average size, specific growth rate, and survival rate) show that Schilbe sp. fry thrived in the rearing system and adapted well to the experimental feeds. Fish fed diet A2 had a higher final average weight (10.1±1.02 g), followed by fish fed diet A3 (9.49±0.67 g). Fish fed diet A2 (109.30 ± 8.05 mm), followed by fish fed diet A3 (107.76 ± 6.72 mm), exhibited higher linear growth than fish fed diet A1 (70.74 ± 3.28 mm). Depending on the types of diets tested, the survival rates were 88.57% (A3), 77.14% (A2), and 65.71% (A1), respectively. Further research focusing on the influence of variations in the physico-chemical quality of water in rearing tanks, as well as on the rearing of Schilbe sp fish, is strongly encouraged in order to help improve the composition of standard feed formulations for this fish species during its growth in aquaculture, taking into account the different ontogenetic stages, and to provide further information on the growth performance of this fish.

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