THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND SURVIVAL OF CYPRINUS CARPIO (COMMON CARP, Linnaeus, 1758) FINGERLINGS FED WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS OF ALOE VERA AS FEEDS ADDITIVES

The growth performance and survival of Cyprinus carpio (common carp, linnaeus, 1758) fingerlings fed with different levels of aloe vera as feeds supplements was carried out in Federal University of Agriculture, Mubi, Adamawa State. The aim was to find out the effects of the different levels of the Aloe vera supplements on the growth and survival of Cyprinus carpio. The study adopted completely randomized design (CRD) with four dietary treatments containing graded levels of Aloe vera was formulated, with each treatment replicated three times. The fish were distributed into twelve tanks experimental tanks corresponding to the four dietary treatments and three replications. The tanks were arranged randomly into the four treatments and three replications. Each tank was supplied with clean water (dechlorinated tap water or borehole water) under continuous aeration. Each tanks was stocked with fifteen fingerlings of Cyprinus carpio making a total of 180 fingerlings. 45% crude protein diets containing different inclusions levels of Aloe vera powder were formulated and used in the experiment. Fish were fed twice daily (morning and evening) at 5% of their body weight for the period of six months. Water quality parameters such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, and pH were monitored using standard methods. Feeds were adjusted fortnightly based on bulk weighing of fish in each tank. Data total length and standard length in millimeters were obtained. Measurement of weight in grams were also obtained. The number of fish stocked and survived at the end of the experiment were recorded. Data generated were analysed using descriptive statistics and standard formula. The results showed that there was significant differences observed in the specific growth rate (SGR), final weight, total weight gain, and relative weight gain among the different levels of Aloe vera diets at (< 0.05 for all). Fish fed with commercial 1.5 levels of Aloe vera powder as supplement exhibited the highest SGR (1.242 ± 0.324%), final weight (0.543 ± 0.068 g), and total weight gain (0.480 ± 0.070 g), significantly outperforming both the egg 0%, 0.5% and 1% Aloe vera supplements. For the fish survival, all the fish fed with 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% of Aloe vera supplements gave 100% survival while the control with 0% supplement diets had 60% survival. Water quality parameters were within the required limit of Cyprinus carpio. It was therefore recommended that diets with 1.5% Aloe vera supplements should be used for better growth and survival of Cyprinus carpio