Comparative assessment of hatching rates of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) eggs using Nile cabbage and Kaka Bans substrates

摘要

The dilemma, on which substrates are most suited for incubation of catfish fry, faces most hatchery managers. The hatchery managers also face an uphill task in ensuring that the ambient conditions required for incubation of catfish eggs are in place. The commonly and locally used substrates are Kaka bans (artificial) and Nile cabbages (Pistia stratiotes) (natural). This study was meant to compare hatching rates between these commonly used substrates and to establish if the difference is significant. The study was carried out at Sagana Fish Culture Farm where there is a modern hatchery, and both substrates are readily available. Three treatments; KB1: Kaka bans, NC2: Nile cabbages and TI3: Tray incubator (control experiment), were used. Nile Cabbage ranked best in performance with a mean hatching rate of 267; trays were second with a mean rate of 115, while kaka ban mats were last with an average of 65. There were minimal costs incurred in the use of all three substrates in this experiment.