Evaluation of Clarias isheriensis (Sydenham) under semi-intensive management in ponds

Fingerlings of the dwarf African mud catfish, Clarias isheriensis (Sydenham), with a mean weight of 32.8 g and stocked at 20 000/ha in four homestead ponds averaging 56.15 m 2, were cultured for 238 days (34 weeks) using dry poultry sweepings (30–40% manure) applied at 90 kg ha −1 day −1, 6 days a week, as direct feed and organic fertilizer. At harvest, survival (mean recovery rate) was 98.4%, with individual fish attaining a mean weight of 259.5 g. Total net fish production was 100.23 kg (4462.60 kg/ha). Mean daily weight gain per individual fish was 0.95 g/day, with an average fish conversion rate of 4.07. Poultry sweepings were beneficial as feed and organic fertilizer, resulting in algal blooms comprising mainly cyanophytes, notably Anabaena, Microcystis and Oscillatoria spp., which were harvested and utilized as food by C. isheriensis in the ponds.