The effect of feeding frequency on feed consumption, growth and feed conversion efficiency of
Clarias gariepinus
X
Heterobranchus longifilis
hybrids was investigated in the laboratory over a periodof 12 weeks (3 months). Fish fed once daily consumed a lower quantity of feed (40.70±0.58 g) than fish fed athigher frequencies. The highest feed consumption was observed in fish fed 5 times daily (54.43±0.24 g), witha significant difference (P< 0.05) in feed consumption at the different feeding frequencies. However, nosignificantdifference was observed in the amount of feed consumed at the once daily twice daily (42.50±0.24g) and thrice daily (44.77±0.20 g) feeding frequencies. There was a significant difference (P< 0.05) in fish length between these feeding frequencies. For weight values, feeding frequency A (once daily) had the lowest finalmean weight (21.40g) while feeding frequency E (five times daily) had the highest mean weight value (30.41 g)starting from 4.12 g ab initio. Mean weight values for other feeding frequencies (B-D, i.e. twice, thrice and four times daily) ranged increasingly between the two extremes. There was also a significant difference (P< 0.05) infinal weight values at the different feeding frequencies. The highest length increment (7.90±0.08 cm) wasobserved in feeding frequency E and the lowest value (6.36±0.02 cm) was observed in frequency A. Similarly,the highest weight increment (26.29±0.10 g) was recorded at the highest feeding frequency (E) and the lowestvalue (17.28±0.11 g) was recorded at the lowest feeding frequency (A). The fish fed at frequencies of once dailyhad the highest feed conversion ratios and least feed conversion efficiencies (2.35, 42.45%) and the ones fedtwice and thrice daily had the lowest feed conversion ratios and highest feed efficiencies (1.95, 1.91 and 51.28%,52.36%) respectively. A statistical comparison of the feed conversion ratios in the five feeding frequencies,using ANOVA, revealed a significant difference (P0.05)specifically, between feeding frequencies B and C (i.e. between twice and thrice daily feeding). It was concludedthat feeding
Clarias gariepinus
X
Heterobranchus longifilis
hybrids more than once a day increasedgrowth performance and the feed conversion ratio was better in twice and thrice daily feeding than feeding thefish once or more than thrice daily.