Authors : Mehmet Naz , Erdal Yilmaz and Mustafa T?rkmen
Abstract: In this study, the effects of dietary energy/protein ratios and L-carnitine on growth and chemical composition of the whole body of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) larvae, were investigated. Diets containing different E/P ratios were prepared by adding 0, 5, 10% (w/w) olive pomace oil to the trout starter diet (300-500 ?m) and supplemented with L-carnitine at either 0 or 2 g kgG . A 3 (E/P ratio) x 2 (L-carnitine supplementation) factorial desing was used with three replicates. African catfish larvae were obtained by the artificial reproduction method and grown under laboratory conditions until 7 days old. 120 African catfish larvae (7 days old) were randomly stocked into each aquarium (80x40x40cm) and fed ad libitum three times a day for 18 days. Weight gain was significantly affected by only E/P ratios, but specific growth rates of larvae were influenced by both E/P ratios and L-carnitine supplementation (p<0.05). No statistical differences was observed with respect to survival rate of the larvae fed different diets (p>0.05). E/P ratios and carnitine supplementation had no significant effect on proximate composition of whole body of the African catfish larvae except protein contents. It was determined that total free fatty acid contents of the larvae fed the diets had the same E/P ratio with L-carnitine supplementation were lower than those of the larvae fed diets without L-carnitine. The current study has shown that the trout starter diet supplemented with 5% olive pomace oil and L-carnitine provided the best growth for African catfish larvae.
Mehmet Naz , Erdal Yilmaz and Mustafa T?rkmen , 2005. A Preliminary Study on African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Larvae Fed with Diets Containing Different E/P Ratios and L-carnitine Supplementation . Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 4: 871-875.