Effects of Plant-Based Diets on Growth Performance and Water Quality of African Catfish Cultured in a Recirculating Aquaculture System

Nur Azrin Abdul Aziz; Nor Shafikah Idris; Zamzila Erdawati Zainol; Aziani Ahmad

doi:10.56532/mjsat.v6iS1.786

Authors

Nur Azrin Abdul Aziz Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Perlis, 02600, Arau, Perlis, Malaysia
Nor Shafikah Idris Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Perlis, 02600, Arau, Perlis, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8233-1614
Zamzila Erdawati Zainol Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Perlis, 02600, Arau, Perlis, Malaysia
Aziani Ahmad Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Perlis, 02600, Arau, Perlis, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56532/mjsat.v6iS1.786

Keywords:

African Catfish, Plant-Based Diets, Growth Performance, Water Quality, RAS

Abstract

This research determined the effects of plant-based dietary on the growth performance and water quality of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) cultured in a Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS). The three dietary treatments were used: commercial pellet (A1), commercial pellet with seaweed (A2) and commercial pellet with Azolla (A3). The growth performance indices and water quality were measured weekly such as weight gain, length gain, specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and water quality parameters (pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate). The results showed that, the fish fed with Azolla diet (A3) achieved the highest weight gain (15.92 ± 2.13 g), length gain (5.12 ± 1.56 cm) and SGR (2.74 ± 0.51 % day⁻¹) whereas fish fed with seaweed diet (A2) showed lower growth performance but produced significantly improved water quality. The consistent numerical trends indicated biologically meaningful dietary effects, although growth performance differences among treatments were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Thus, commercial pellet with Azolla (A3), emerged as a practical and sustainable feeding strategy that enhances growth performance while maintaining acceptable water quality in intensive systems.

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