Haematological Response of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) Fingerlings Reared in Fish Cum-Duck Integrated System

Abstract

This investigation was carried out to determine the haematological response of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings reared in a Fish cum-duck integrated system. One thousand and eighty pieces fingerlings with mean initial weight (MIW) and standard length (SL) (1.8 ± 0.22g, and 5.19 ± 0.44 cm) respectively were stocked for ten (10) weeks. The haematological investigation revealed that RBC and WBC increased significantly (P<0.05) within treatments. Other haematological variations were also observed in parameters such as PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC and Hb with significant decrease (P< 0.05) in their mean values within treatments as compared to the control. Water quality parameters such as Dissolved oxygen ad Transparency shows evidential significant different (P< 0.05), while parameters such as Temperature, Total dissolved solid (TDS), Nitrate, Phosphate, Biological oxygen demand (BOD), Turbidity and pH shows no significant difference (P> 0.05). This studies shows in conclusion, that there were variations in the haematological and water quality parameters, but it was noticed that the values recorded could not to a greater extent hurt the fish because is still within the tolerable limits as confirmed by other research evidences. More so, the level of gains outweighs the level of damages caused as compared to the economic approach.