The research was carried out in the farm for 56 days to evaluate the benefits of Telfairia occidentalis additive on growth and nutrients utilization of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings in a Complete Randomized Designed set up. The leaf of T. occidentalis were air dried for two weeks in an indoor facility, and then pounded into powder form. One hundred and thirty five (135) C. gariepinus fingerlings (mean body weight 9.6g) were randomly distributed into fifteen (15) plastic bowls at nine fish/ bowl in triplicates. Five diets designated as D1, D2, D3, D4 and D5, containing 40% crude protein with 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200g/kg of T. occidentalis leaf meal, were included in the basal feed, formulated and fed to Clarias gariepinus fingerlings at 5% body weight per day. The result revealed that T. occidentalis significantly (P≤0.05) improved the growth of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings. The highest mean weight gain (14.6g) was in D2, followed by D3 (10.6g), while control D1 had the least 10.1g. Meanwhile there was significant (P≤0.05) difference in relative growth rate across the diets, diets that was fed with T. occidentalis had the best when compared with D1 respectively. The research demonstrate the efficiency of including leaf meal in the diets of fish. It has proved that leaf is proficient towards improving the well-being, growth, and nutrients absorption in fish. It uncover high survival rate when given to the fish in right proportion.
Keywords: Clarias Gariepinus, Length, Weight, nutrients utilization, telfairia occidentalis leaf
