Pakistan Journal of Nutrition 7 (4): 527-529, 2008 ISSN 1680-5194 © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2008 527 Comparative Survival and Growth Rate of Clarias gariepinus and Heteroclarias Hathclings Fed Live and Frozen Daphnia R.O. Ojutiku Department of Water Resources, Aquaculture and Fisheries, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria Abstract: Feeding trial was conducted to assess survival and growth rate of Clarias gariepinus and Heteroclarias (hybrid of Clarias gariepinus and Heterobranchus longifilis) larvae (3-day old) fed on live and frozen Daphnids. Live and Frozen daphnia were used as starter diet at 50 Daphnids per larvae per feeding time for each of the species for fourteen days to assess their performance. The response to the feed and the species were compared. Heteroclarias and Clarias gariepinus fed live Daphnids performed better in terms of growth rate than those fed Frozen daphnids, though, no significant difference (p<0.05) statistically. Clarias gariepinus and Heteroclarias fed Frozen had greater survival than those fed live Daphnids. Heteroclarias fed live and Frozen Daphnids performed better in growth and survival than Clarias gariepinus. Therefore, Live Daphnids is recommended for larvae though Frozen Daphnids can be used as supplement and Heteroclarias is recommended for aqua culturists for better growth and survival. Key words: Daphnia, Heteroclarias, hybrid Introduction Aquaculture in Nigeria is in the developing stage, because it has not been able to meet the demand and supply of the ever-increasing population. It is acknowledge as the efficient means of providing food which is rich in protein source, income and employment opportunities for the populace. Madu et al. (1988) noted that interest in fish culture is growing very rapidly in Nigeria but the scarcity of fingerlings of widely acceptable species of catfish such as Heterobranchus longifilis (Val. 1840) and Clarias species tend to constitute a major constraint to the rapid development of Materials and Methods fish farming in Nigeria. Brain and Army (1980) The brooders used for the experiment were obtained mentioned that economically productive aquaculture like from a private farm at Ilorin and Minna Fish market, agriculture, is heavily dependent on adequate supply of Nigeria. They were kept separately in 150cm×150cm seeds or fertile eggs and juvenile fish, with which to outdoor concrete tanks at the farm and were fed stock the pond enclosures and other culture systems. maintenance ration containing 35% crude protein feed Fish culture today is hardly imaginable without the formulated before use at the farm. Brooders selections artificial or semi-artificial mass propagation of fish for this study were based on both external morphology seeds of culture fish species. Heterobranchus and and eggs characteristics. Females were selected Clarias happen to be among the more than 300 species displayed based on a rounded soft abdomen with of fin fishes that have been cultivated but not spawn in prominent blood vessels, swollen reddish vent and captivity as reported by Brain and Army (1980) which appearance of viable eggs upon slight pressure on the therefore implies that their seed have to be obtained abdomen. Using a scoop net, the brooders were from the wild. But it was reported by Afinowi and removed from the concrete tanks which were further Marioghae (1986) that supply of fingerlings from the wild separated into species and sexes. Male, as most unreliable, unstable and inadequate, since the Heterobranchus longifills, male Clarias gariepinus and breeding habit of most culturable species is seasoned female, Clarias gariepinus were put into plastic bowls and the fish has to be captured at the time which may containing clean water and covered until required. not correspond to the optimum production conditions. Hybridization is practiced to achieve either of the Hormone administration: Synthetic hormone, ova-prim favourable outcomes; these are heterotis or hybrid was used in injecting the female, Clarias gariepinus. vigour, which is defined in a broad sense as increased When administering the ova-prim, a 21-gauge needle performance value of progeny above the average of the parental performance of value. Food plays an important role in fry rearing, without which the fry cannot survive. Due to the exorbitant rate of Artemia which is a live food, there is the urgent need to source for live feed locally. The study was therefore to determine and compare the survival and growth rate of hybrid hatchlings of Heterobranchus longifilis and Clarias gariepinus fed with live and frozen zooplankton (Daphina) for two weeks with the parental performance (Clarias gariepinus).