Olusola, S.E. and Olorunfemi, B.V.

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Feeding trials were conducted in experimental tanks to assess guava (Psidium guajava) leaves (GL) and drumstick (Moringa oleifera) leaves (DL) on nutrient utilization and growth performance of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings. Nine experimental diets composed of control (0%), DL2 (1%), DL3 (2%), DL4 (3%), GL5 (1%), GL6 (2%), GL7 (3%), Oxytetracycline (OXY)8 (15mg/kg) and OXY9 (30mg/kg) were formulated and replicated twice at 40% crude protein. Twenty fish per treatment (mean weight 2.59 ± 0.02) were fed twice daily at 3% body weight for 8 weeks. Mean Weight Gain (MWG), Nitrogen Metabolism (NM) and Specific Growth Rate (SGR) were determined. Temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH were measured using standard methods. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at p=0.05. Fish fed on GL and DL based diets had higher growth rates than those fed the control diets but C. gariepinus fed OXY 8 had significantly higher mean weight gain (2.44±0.04g), nitrogen metabolism (116.83±0.05) and specific growth rate (0.52±0.01g) followed by DL2 of 2.41±0.63g, 116.37±0.04, 0.51±0.99g respectively than the control. The values for temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH among the treatments were within the range for fish culture in the tropics. Fish fed with guava leaves and drumstick leaves extracts diets had improved mean weight gain, specific growth rate and nitrogen metabolism at 1% inclusion level. The inclusion of guava and drumstick leaves extracts in organic aquaculture would lead to an increase in fish productivity. Key words: Clarias gariepinus, Psidium guajava, Moringa oleifera, fish growth, nutrient utilisation