BACTERIA ASSOCIATED WITH Clarias gariepinus and Heteroclarias (BURCHELL, 1822) FINGERLING FED Musca domestica LARVA

Akinyemi, A.A.

Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management

University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

E-mail: adeoluakinyemi@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

In Nigeria, with the present economic depression, cost of fish diets is increasing daily not just because of inflation but because most of the feedstuff used in preparing fish diets face serious competition from man as food. Live food organisms are important for the growth of fish during culture especially at their early stages of development (fry and fingerling stages). Bacteria on the other hand, are responsible for many fish diseases especially those associated with environmental stresses such as poor handling. This study therefore examined the bacteria associated with Clarias gariepinus and Heteroclarias fingerlings fed with Musca domestica larva. Eighty fingerlings of C. gariepinus of an average weight of 2.3gm were obtained from a hatchery in Abeokuta Ogun State. Droppings of poultry (100%) were collected in jute bag from University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, poultry farm for maggot production. The harvested larva were then fed to C. gariepinus fingerlings. The microbiological analysis was then carried out on the fingerlings fortnightly. The results revealed the presence of micro-organisms in the fish species examined. 41 samples (76%) were affected with bacteria while 13 samples (24%) had no growth. The species of bacteria present in the fish were Enterobacteria species, Escherichia coli and Proteus species. These microorganisms are either of pathogenic, food poisoning, food spoilage or of epidemiological importance.