Growth performance of Clarias gariepinus fed varying levels of soybean meal was carried out between May 2017 and July 2017. The diets were formulated at 0%, 35%, 40%, 45% and 50% soybean meal. The aim of this study is to examine the growth performance of catfish Clarias gariepinus to varying levels of Soybean fish feed formulation. Proximate composition of the varying levels of soybean meal showed that all the diets contain reasonable percentage of crude protein with better crude fat and carbohydrate in F3 (40%). Initial weight of C . gariepinus did not differ significantly (p>0.05) among the treatments . Diets F3 (40%) and F2 (35%) gave better body weight gain compared with F1 (0%) inclusion, which differ significantly (p>0.05) with only F4 (45%) . Diet F1 (0%) had the best specific growth rate that differ significantly (p<0.05) only with diets F4. Feed conversion ratio was better in F1 and even F3 although with significant difference (p>0.05). Protein intake was highest in F3, which did not differ significantly (p>0.05) from other diets. Protein efficiency ratio was highest in F1 and can be compared with F4 and F3. Mean condition factors of fish fed diets F1 (0.71), F2 (0.72), F3 (0.73), F4 (0.69) and F5 (0.72) showed they were not i n good condition in the tanks. Water quality parameters measured did not show any significant difference (p>0.05) among the treatments and fall within the limit for fish production. L ow percentage inclusion of soybean (0%-40%) be used, further research need to be done on other processing method of soybean as well as replicated for other culturable fish species.
Keywords:- Growth performance , Clarias gariepinus, soybean meal , fish species
* Correspondence Author