Comparative Assessment of Growth Performance and Economics of Production of Clarias gariepinus Fingerlings in Ponds and Tanks

An experiment was conducted to compare the growth and economics of producing Clarias gariepinusin ponds (6.4x5.4x1.5m3) and tanks (2.5x1.1x1.2m3) for 56days. Fingerlings of Clarias gariepinus(mean weight, 1.80g and body length, 4.40cm) were stocked at 250 and 50 fish separately into each pond and tank in duplicates. Fish were fed a commercial feed containing 45% crude protein at 5% body weight. It was divided into two halves and fed at 1000 and 1600hours daily. At final harvest, the total yield of fish was significantly greater (P<0.05) in pond, 3.0kg than those in tank, 1.81kg. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in mean weight gain (13.75+0.95g, 13.44+0.95g), condition factor (0.92+0.03, 0.91+0.03) and feed conversion ratio (0.56+0.01, 0.51+0.01) between fingerlings stocked in pond and tank. Fish in pond had higher percentage weight gain and specific growth rate while survival rate ranged 74.11+0.54-88.80+0.54% in the culture media. Net profits obtained wereN4300 (pond) and N2250 (tank). The benefit: cost ratio was higher for tank (1.38) than for pond (1.19). The pond environment appeared more productive while the tank was more economical with higher benefit in this study