ISSN 2360-7971
Abstract
Researchers wanted to find out what happened to the fish's growth, weight, and feed conversion rate when spinach leaf was fed instead of ascorbic acid to young Clarias gariepinus. It was experimental research conducted in the nutrition laboratory of the Department of Biological Sciences of the Nigerian Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State. Data obtained from the experiment was subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results revealed that the final weight for fish is higher in diet 4, with a mean value of 274.20 g, followed by diet 1 (251.10 g). There is a significant difference between diet four and diet three. Mean weight gain is higher in diet (4) 257.47 g and lowest in diet (3) 189.87 g. There is a significant difference between the mean value in diet (4) and (3). Mean daily weight gain is higher in diet (4) 4.29g, followed by diet (1) 3.90g, and lowest in diet (3) 3.16g. Specific growth rate is higher in diet (4) with the mean value of 1.98 g, followed by diet (1) 1.97 g, and lowest in diet (2) 1.67 g. Percentage weight gain is higher in diet (4) 1536.1 g and followed by diet (1) 1384.1 g. This means that feed with a high dose of spinach has a significant effect on the growth, weight, and feed conversion of Clarias gariepinus. It is therefore recommended that fish farmers should go for spinach leaves as a source of vitamin C in their diet since it is cheaper and available any time of the season always have even those in the rural areas will always access to spinach leaves rather than vitamin C.
Keywords: African Catfish, Growth Indices, Spinach Leaf Meal, Feed Conversion