Study on the Effect of Dettol as a Disinfectant and Anti-Sticking Agent on African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Eggs, Survival and Growth Performance of the Hatchlings

Eggs of matured Clarias gariepinus size ranging from 500-600 g total body weight (TBW) were treated with dettol concentrations 0.00 ml, 0.10 ml, 0.20 ml and 0.30 ml (T1, T2, T3 and T4) respectively for 60 seconds to determine their effect on hatching, survival and growth performance of fry. Each treatment was replicated three times. The experiment was conducted at the indoor hatchery unit Fish Farm, Federal University of Technology, (FUT), Bosso Campus, Minna, Nigeria. Percentage fertilization did not differed significantly in all treatments except for T2 (0.10 ml) and T3 (0.20 ml) that had significant difference (p>0.05) (75.79c and 78.54b) respectively. Percentage hatching differed significantly (p>0.05) among treatments control (0.00 ml), 0.10 ml, 0.20 ml and 0.30 ml (50.00d, 51.60c, 52.57b and 54.10a) respectively. The bred hatchlings were maintained for 8 weeks and total percentage mortality and survival showed that T1 (control) (0.00 ml) had the highest mortality (64.00) and T2 (0.10 ml) had the highest survival (426.00). There was no significant difference (P<0.05) in all fish body parameters measured among treatments except the mean total body weight (TBW) gain that differed significantly (P>0.05) T3 (0.20 ml) (0.18a) as compared to other treatments T1, T2 and T4 (0.12b, 0.12b and 0.11b) respectively. It is concluded that Clarias gariepinus eggs disinfected with dettol at 0.20 ml and 0.30 ml concentration for 60 seconds was most effective and should be applied before incubation for optimal fertilization, hatching, growth and survival.