Asian Journal of Current Research

Feed cost and quality remain the single largest constraint on profitable African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) production in Nigeria, yet farmers have little independent, comparative evidence on how the standard commercial feeds available to them actually perform. This study therefore compared the growth performance, feed utilisation, and water quality outcomes of African catfish fed three standard commercial feeds widely marketed in northeastern Nigeria. Post-fingerlings with a mean initial weight of 5.52 ± 0.00 g were assigned to three treatments T1 (LZG Star Fish Feed), T2 (Blue Crown fish feed), and T3 (Eco fish feed) in a completely randomised design with three replicates per treatment (20 fish per replicate; 180 fish in total). Fish were stocked in concrete ponds (2 × 2 × 3 m) and fed at 5% of body weight daily for twelve weeks following a five (5)-day acclimatisation period. Growth (weight and length), survival, feed conversion ratio (FCR), specific growth rate (SGR), the proximate composition of the three feeds, and water quality parameters (pH, temperature, and dissolved oxygen) were assessed, with data analysed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan's multiple range test. Fish fed LZG Star Fish Feed achieved the best overall growth performance, with the highest final body weight (75.55 ± 1.10 g), final length (20.72 ± 0.02 cm), and specific growth rate (3.20 ± 0.01%/day), and the lowest feed conversion ratio (19.55 ± 0.01), followed by fish fed Blue Crown (73.20 ± 0.44 g), while fish fed Eco Feed recorded the lowest final weight (64.11 ± 0.30 g) (p < .05). Proximate analysis showed that LZG Star Fish Feed contained the highest crude protein (45.50 ± 1.01%) and ether extract (11.30 ± 0.79%) among the three feeds, which corresponded directly with its superior growth outcomes and was consistent with the established protein and energy requirements of the species. Survival rate, mortality rate, and all monitored water quality parameters did not differ significantly among treatments (p > .05), indicating that the observed differences in growth were driven primarily by feed nutritional quality rather than by differences in rearing conditions. These findings suggest that LZG Star Fish Feed offers the best growth returns among the three feeds evaluated and provide farmers, feed manufacturers, and extension agencies with independently verified, comparative evidence to guide feed selection for catfish production in the study area.