The Effects of Dietary Turmeric on Growth and Reproductive Potentials of Female Clarias gariepinus Brood Stocks

Background and Objective: The restricted supplies of fish seeds due to the inadequate production of quality eggs by brood stocks and the attendant poor survival of the hatchlings into high-quality fingerlings continually tend to limit the success of Clarias gariepinus culture in Nigeria. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary turmeric on the growth and reproductive potential of Clarias gariepinus. Materials and Methods: Eight feeds were prepared to contain in 100 g feed, turmeric as A = 0 mg, B = 80 mg, C = 160 mg, D = 240 mg, E = 320 mg, F = 400 mg, G = 480 mg and H = 560 mg treatments in a completely randomized design with 4 replicates. Feeds were served at 3% but per day for 6 weeks. In the end, each fish was induced with Ovaprim at 0.5 mL kg‾¹. The ovaries were removed, gonado-somatic index (GSI) and fecundity determined, eggs from ovary samples were fertilized and incubated, hatchlings reared for 7 days without external feeding, hatchability and survival rates were assessed and the remaining ovary for histological procedures. Results: The GSI was significantly highest in A and lowest in G. There was no significant difference in mean weight gain nominally highest in G and fecundity. The hatchability of A only differed from G and H. There was no significant superiority of turmeric feeds over non-turmeric feed in survival rate though E was nominally the best. Conclusion: Turmeric supplementation did not improve weight gain and reproductive performances in Clarias gariepinus brood stocks.