Sibling Cannibalism of African Catfish Clarias Gariepinus (burchell, 1822) Fingerlings Cultured Under Different Photoperiod Conditions

Study was carried out to investigate sibling cannibalism in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) fingerlings reared under different photoperiods. Experiments were conducted, in Adamawa State University Mubi Teaching and Research fish farm using fingerlings of ten weeks old from the same sibling obtained through artificial breeding. Fingerlings of average initial weight (4.81±0.00g) and (2.80±0.30cm) length were stocked at 40, 60, 80 and 100 fingerlings per 100 litre of water each in three replicates using flow-through system. They were fed with Coppens feed three times a day to satiation. They were cultured under four different photoperiodic regimes (24hours, 12hour, 6hours, and total darkness). The experiment lasted for 30 days. Water quality parameters were monitored weekly. Data generated on percentage cannibalism, mortality, survival rate, growth parameters and water quality parameters were analysed using one way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using statistical analysis for social science. The result shows that fingerlings cultured under dark environment and feed to satiation had the least percentage cannibalism of 2.33±0.00% and 2.004±0.00%. Also low mortality rate, high survival rate, and high specific growth ratest was observed under the same treatment. Based on the results from the experiments, sibling cannibalism in Clarias gariepinus can be reduce up to 2.00% at fingerlings stage when cultured under dark environment and at density of 50 per 100 litres with proper feeding at satiation.