Evaluation of Local Anti-Stress Agents and Multi-strain Probiotic Bacteria in Transporting Catfish (Clarias anguillaris) Fingerlings

Abstract

This study was undertaken to evaluate the anti-stress effect of salt (5g/l), multi-strain probiotic bacteria, and palm oil on the changes in water quality and the survival rate of Clarias anguillaris fingerlings. Six thousand seven hundred and fifty fingerlings were purchased in a homestead pond, acclimatized, and transported. Results showed that the temperature increased progressively during transportation but decreased after the journey, with values ranging from 27.2ºC to 28.3ºC. All the pH values were within the optimum range of 6.5-8.5, except the group treated with salt (T2). There was a steady decline in the dissolved oxygen content of some of the groups during the journey, with T3 recording the highest value of 4.17mg/l and T2 recording the least of 3.07mg/l compared to the control after the journey. There was a progressive increase of total dissolved solids and EC in T1, T3, and T5 during the journey, with T2 recording the significantly (p<0.05) highest value of 7.2 ?S/cm and T5 recording the least value of 0.2 ?S/cm compared to T1. Ammonia and nitrite concentrations similarly increased steadily across all the groups throughout the journey. The nitrite concentration varied across all the groups during the journey, with T5 recording the highest value of 17.9mg/l compared to T1, which recorded a value of 6.37mg/l. T3 recorded the lowest mortality rate of 2.9% while T1 recorded the highest rate of 42.8%. Based on the results obtained from this study, the multi-strain probiotic bacteria-treated group performed better based on survival and physicochemical parameters, followed by the group treated with salt.