GROWTH RESPONSE AND NUTRIENT UTILIZATION OF Heterobranchus bidorsalis JUVENILES FED GRADED LEVELS OF MELON SHELL MEAL

The study evaluated the effect of including graded levels of melon shell in diets of Heterobranchus bidorsalis juveniles (13.30±1.20). This study was conducted for 8 weeks. The diet constitute 42% crude protein content with melon shell at different inclusion levels of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% respectively. Fish in each tank was fed 3% body weight of diet twice daily. Weights of fish were taken weekly. Data collected were analyzed using One way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The result showed that the ash content ranged from 2.80 in fish fed diet one to 4.03 in fish fed diet four. Crude fibre content ranged from 8.52 of fish fed diet one to 12.99 in fish fed diet five. Also, Ether extract ranged from 7.90 in fish fed diet one to 17.45 in fish fed diet five while the crude protein content values ranged from 39.66 in fish fed diet one to 40.05 in fish fed in diet five. The proximate values of the experimental diets showed a significant differences (P<0.05) among treatments.