Fingerling Production:

Nursing Fry in Ponds Floating weeds are removed manually Pond preparation We can think of fish
production as a three-stage system: (1) fry rearing, (2) production of fingerlings and (3) on-growing.

Whereas fry are raised in small and shallow ponds, fingerlings need larger-sized (0.08-0.20 ha) and
slightly deeper (1.5-2.0 m) ponds. If the ponds are seasonal, only one crop of fingerlings will be
possible, whereas at least four crops can be produced in perennial ponds. ƒ

Fingerlings of about 100 mm are good for stocking in medium-sized ponds where predators have
been eliminated. ƒ Advanced fingerlings of about 150 mm are best for stocking in seasonal ponds
(because they grow fast and can be marketed in 6-8 months) ƒ Advanced fingerlings of about 150
mm are also good for large ponds and tanks and Medium Irrigation Projects (MIPs) where
competitors and predators are present in good numbers (because they can better escape
predation).

Pond preparation

Water hyacinth Water lettuce Water fern

Prepare the pond three weeks ahead of the date fry is expected. The fingerling rearing pond, like the
nursery pond, should be free from weeds and predators. Submerged weeds and predators are killed
by mahua oilcake (which is toxic for three weeks), which then acts as a good fertilizer, giving a rich
crop of zooplankton which is good for catla in rearing ponds. If there are no weeds, to kill predators
and competitors quickly you can just add 100 kg of urea followed 24 hours later by 200 kg of fresh
bleaching powder (which is toxic for only a week) for a 1-ha area of a 1-m deep pond. Fish killed in
this way can be eaten.

A week after treatment with bleaching powder, add fresh cow dung (2,500 kg/ha) or a mixture of
cow dung (2,500 kg/ha) and poultry manure (1,250 kg/ha). If mahua oilcake is used, no fertilizer
need be added for the first 15 days. Better-Practice Guidelines (No. 10)

2 Stocking the fry

The pond should be stocked as soon as it is ready and as early in the season as possible to get fry.
This makes best use of the available water and the high temperatures. While monoculture (growing
one species) is preferred in a nursery pond, now stock the three species together for polyculture in
the rearing pond. Stocking density The number of fish you add to a rearing pond affects the size they
reach. ƒ Stocking 100,000 fry in 1 ha would give 100 mm fingerlings in eight weeks and an average
survival of 75%. ƒ The same stocking density would yield 150 mm fingerlings in 12 weeks with an
average survival of 70%. ƒ If 150 mm fingerlings are the target in eight weeks, the stocking density
should be reduced to 75,000 fry/ha. Most rearing ponds are 0.08-2.0 ha. Use the table below: select
your pond size, the size of fingerling you want and the time you have. area (ha) number size (mm)
time (weeks) The quality of wat
 The quality of water should be tested for residual toxicity before the fry are stocked by putting 10-
20 fry in a hapa for 24 hours. At this stage, the fish live in different layers of the water and eat
different things. To use all the space and food available in the pond, it is advisable to stock different
species together. Fry from a hatchery will usually be packed in bags with oxygen like this. Carp
Polyculture Grass carp Silver carp Common carp Detritus Zooplankton Phytoplankton Insects Mrigal
Catla Rohu Aquatic vegetation 3 To provide food for the fish, you will need to fertilize the pond
water every few weeks and supplement with feed every day. If mahua oilcake was used to kill
predators: Time Action Notes 2 weeks after stocking add lime (50 kg/ha) 2.5 kg in 0.05 ha 5.0 kg in
0.1 ha 10.0 kg in 0.2 ha Broadcast the lime evenly over the pond 4 weeks after stocking add urea (25
kg/ha) 1.25 kg in 0.05 ha 2.5 kg in 0.1 ha 5.0 kg in 0.2 ha and add superphosphate (50 kg/ha) 2.5 kg
in 0.05 ha 5.0 kg in 0.1 ha 10.0 kg in 0.2 ha To promote the growth of phytoplankton as food Adding
too much can cause fish to die If you added organic manure: Time Action Notes 4 weeks after
stocking add a second dose of (2,500 kg cow dung and 1,250 kg poultry manure/ha) 125 kg(CD)+63
kg(PM) in 0.05 ha 250 kg(CD)+125 kg(PM) in 0.1 ha 500 kg(CD)+250 kg(PM) in 0.2 ha To promote the
growth of plankton as food Adding too much can cause fish to die Feeding: Time Action Notes From
the day after stocking feed twice daily an oilcake-rice bran mixture (10 kg/ha) 0.5 kg in 0.05 ha 1.0 kg
in 0.1 ha 2.0 kg in 0.2 ha Feed half in the morning and half in the evening 2 weeks after stocking feed
twice daily an oilcake-rice bran mixture (15 kg/ha) 0.75 kg in 0.05 ha 1.5 kg in 0.1 ha 3.0 kg in 0.2 ha
Adding feed in the same place helps fish to feed and allows you to sometimes catch fish 4 weeks
after stocking feed twice daily an oilcake-rice bran mixture (22.5 kg/ha) 1.125 kg in 0.05 ha 2.25 kg in
0.1 ha 4.5 kg in 0.2 ha Continue to increase the ration by 50% every two weeks Avoid adding feed
and manure on cloudy days because there may not be enough oxygen for the fish. Post-stocking
management Adding lime Adding manure Carp feeding 4 Harvesting, packaging and transport Once
the fingerlings reach the right size they can be sold. After making arrangements with customers, the
fingerlings should be harvested early in the morning and properly conditioned for transport in a
hapa. Fingerlings are active. Any mishandling will easily result in heavy mortality. Like fry, fingerlings
can be transported in polythene bags 1/3 full of water and 2/3 oxygen but this is expensive and only
a limited number can be packed per container. Large numbers of fingerlings can be transported in a
Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) transportation tank, which can be moved on the back of a truck.
The one pictured (right) has been developed by the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture
(CIFA) in Bhubaneswar. It is good to raise fingerlings near to water bodies that can be stocked, such
as in ponds next to a reservoir or tank. This avoids costs and potential losses due to transport.
Stocking fingerlings
Introduction
Fish farmers need a reliable supply of healthy
fingerlings to stock grow-out ponds. Farmers can
produce their own fingerlings, purchase the
fingerlings from hatcheries, or use a combination of
both options.
Fingerlings have to be handled several times before
stocking into ponds. The handling and husbandry at
the hatchery, during transportation and subsequent
stocking into ponds, can determine the success or failure of the grow-out phase. Poor
husbandry can result in high mortalities or diseased fish. Problems with the fish may be
noticed immediately or over a period of a few weeks following stocking.
Signs of stressed and/or diseased fish include emaciation (big head-small body), lethargy,
loss of appetite, lesions or "patchy" skin, unusual colour, "flashing", frayed tails and fins, or
opaque eyes. These signs may be associated with, or precede mortalities.
By following some simple procedures, the likelihood of these problems, occurring can be
minimised.
Ordering Stock from Hatcheries
Place your order well in advance discussing issues such as mean weights, grading,
weaning status (feed type and crumble/pellet size), size of order, parental genetics, cost
and payment arrangements and delivery details.
Fingerlings harvested from a pond at the hatchery should be quarantined (stocked into
tanks) and placed in a 5g/l NaC1 for at least 3 days. The salt solution reduces stress,
prevents fungal infection and parasitic infestations. This process also allows the hatchery
management to grade fish, discard weak fish or non-target species and "settle" (4 to 6
days) the fish prior to delivery to the farms. This process will ensure the fish are healthy
and capable of withstanding the stress of transportation.
Taking Delivery
Preparation
Be prepared to receive the fingerlings. Have the tanks or ponds cleaned, filled and
operational and check the water supply, aeration, pumps, etc are functioning correctly.
Predator netting should be provided and a supply of appropriately sized feed on hand.
Inspection
Before unloading the fish, make sure the order has been filled correctly (species and
number) and the fish appear healthy.
Quarantine
It is strongly advised to quarantine the fingerlings in tanks on arrival at the farm. Treatment
with salt and a "settling" period of 3-4 days should follow. Tanks should have an abundant
supply of high quality water and aeration.
Acclimatising
Fish will stress if there is a significant difference between the quality of "transport water"
and the "receiving water" (tank or pond water). The younger the fish, and the greater the
difference between the "waters", the less tolerant the fish will be. Both bodies of water
should be monitored for pH and temperature. If the difference in these parameters is
greater than one pH point (e.g. pH 7 and pH 8) or 2ºC respectively, the fish should be
acclimatised over a period of 30 to 60 minutes. Acclimatising is achieved by slowly
replacing the transport water with receiving water. Small bilge pumps and siphons are
useful for this process.
Stocking the Fish
Anaesthesia
It is recommended that an anaesthetic be used for handling the fingerlings. The level of
anaesthesia should only be "light" (fish remain upright) to maintain a low stress response
followed by a quick recovery once stocked. Fish should be transferred between waters as
quickly as possible.
Counting
With the use of an anaesthetic, bins and a set of scales, fish can easily be counted during
stocking into tanks or ponds. The fingerlings are moved in small batches and the total
weights recorded. By dividing the total weight of all the fingerlings with the mean individual
weight, an approximation of the total number of fish stocked can be obtained. The mean
individual weight is calculated by weighing and counting a small sub-sample. Fish should
be kept in water as much as possible during this procedure.
Stocking into ponds
Particular care should be taken when stocking fish into ponds. Due to the ambient weather
conditions and the effect of algae blooms, pond water can have significant differences in
water quality compared to tank or transport water. Try to avoid stocking during the heat of
the day. Fingerlings under anaesthesia, can become disorientated and "beach" themselves
in areas of poor water quality.
Fish stocked into ponds can at times, become "un-weaned". This can be overcome by
ensuring all fish are fully weaned prior to stocking or penning the fish into a small area of
the pond where feeding can commence.
Stocking Density
It is recommended fingerlings be grown for 3-4 months during a "fingerling phase".
Fingerlings can be stocked between 20,000 to 100,000 fish/ha depending upon each farms
facilities, design, production schedule and expertise of personnel. A strict protocol of water
quality monitoring, disease checking and feeding should be followed during this phase.
Feed size will depend upon the size of the fingerlings. Small fingerlings (0.5g) will consume
"fines" whereas larger fish will need 1-3mm "crumble" feed. It is advisable to seek advice
from the hatchery, prior to delivery, regarding the type and size of feed the fingerlings are
consuming. At the end of the fingerling phase the fish should be harvested, graded and
stocked into the grow-out ponds.
Communication
Following the delivery and stocking of fish, inform you hatchery manager of any problems,
or changes you would like implemented. It is the responsibility of both the hatchery and the
grower to ensure fingerlings are delivered and stocked in healthy condition
How to Identify Quality
Local Fishmeal
BY ENIOLA ABIODUN

ON AUGUST 8, 2016

IN CATFISH FARMING

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catfish farming. Click here to see how I can help.

The present state of economy in the country is not helping catfish farmers in the
area of profitability. You probably have not heard that the prices of floating
feeds have gone up because you don’t have small fishes. The cost of 72 percent
fishmeal has almost doubled compared with what was obtainable in the last four
years. In fact, the most discouraging part of my story is that you may not get
customers for catfishes above 1.3kg except you are ready to sell on credit.
Recently the price of catfish in the market started depreciating, only God knows
what the price will be tomorrow. Catfish is now cheaper than other imported iced-
fishes. In my opinion, the drop in the value of the Naira should have been a plus to
local fish farming but some of the most important inputs in catfish feed
production are imported. The higher the value of the Dollar to the Naira, the higher
the cost of these imported inputs. Catfish farmers should also bear in mind that the
purchasing power of an averaging Nigerian is reducing by the day due to non-
payment of salary and general economic performance. I do hope things will get
better. Anyway, before then, catfish farmers must learn how to use quality local
fishmeal as a substitute to other imported fish meals. However, if care is not
taking, you might end up buying something else in the name of local fishmeal.
Then, how can farmers identify good and quality local fishmeal? Here are some
tips:
 Quality local fishmeal can be identified by how it smells. Anyone with good
sense of smell can easily differentiate between the aroma of dry fish and other
edibles.
 Catfish farmers should not depend on smell alone because fish oil and fish
perfume can be used to make any material smell like fish. You will need to
examine the contents of what you want to pay for. At times, it could be fish
heads and bones packed in the sack. From experience, the flesh of dry fish is
better than any part of its body even when they don’t smell well.
 You can also use weight to determine how good a local fishmeal is. Bags of
local fishmeal become heavier when the content is mixed with sand and other
particles. You need to see how local fishmeals are blend with other particles
that look like dry fish.
 It might be very difficult to identify how good a grinded local fishmeal is
with smelling, observation or weight. The only way to ascertain the quality of
grinded local fishmeal is through laboratory test.
I will also like to share this piece of additional information with you in this article.
An experiment was performed in three different farms on performance of catfish
without the use of fishmeal in their feed. Poultry and feather meal were used as
replaced for fishmeal at an inclusive rate of between 18-25 percent. At the end of
five months when those fishes were cropped, there was no significant difference
between catfishes that were fed with fishmeal and those fed with alternative to
fishmeal. In fact, an average performance in one of the farms was 1.6kg in five
months. I believe that there will be better ways to culture catfishes in tropical
Africa in the nearest future. You can also share your experience with us on this
blog. Thanks for following this blog.
Catfish Feed Sizes and
Catfish Growth: What
You Need to Know
BY ENIOLA ABIODUN

ON JULY 29, 2016

IN CATFISH FARMING

Don't waste your time and money. Let me help you finally make a profit from
catfish farming. Click here to see how I can help.

It has been observed that there is a significant relationship between feed size and
growth in catfish. In other words, the size of feed given to your catfishes has a lot
to do with their growth and general well being.

In catfish feed production, most especially floating feed, it is a common practice

that smaller feed must be made richer in nutrition than bigger feed sizes. The
reason for this is that smaller fishes that consume feeds of smaller sizes need better
nutrition in terms of crude protein to grow well. Catfish farmers are to be guided
by the principle of ‘’the smaller the feed the better’’ in selection and formulation of
feed for their fishes. Here are more facts on relationship between feed sizes and
growth in catfishes that will enhance your proficiency in catfish farming practices.

 Feeds of lower sizes are always richer than feeds of bigger sizes.

 Feeds of lower sizes cost more because they are richer.

 Feed sizes vary to provide adequate nutrition for catfishes of different ages and
sizes.
 Feeds of smaller sizes can be used to feed bigger fish. However, feed of bigger
sizes should not be used to feed smaller catfish because they might not be able
to pick and such feed may not contain enough nutrients needed by small fishes.

 It is better to feed your fishes with feeds of smaller sizes long enough before
graduating them to bigger feeds.

 I recommend that 95 percent of your catfishes are big enough to pick feed of
higher grade before they are introduced to such feed size.

 One of the reasons for poor growth in catfishes is that farmers do not wait
enough before introducing their fishes to feeds of bigger sizes for many
reasons:
1. To reduce cost of feed;
2. To reduce feed quantity consumed per meal;
3. To save time used in feeding;
4. To reduce wastage. None of these reasons is tangible enough to rush your
catfishes into picking feeds that are bigger for their sizes.
 Feeding your fishes with feeds of smaller sizes make them to feed more and
digest better. This means more growth.

 Variation in sizes of catfishes of same stock occurs when you change your feed
sizes sooner than necessary. This sometimes encourages cannibalism in
catfishes. Never rush to change your catfish feed size until it is obviously
necessary.

 When fishes of same stock outgrow one another and there is a need to graduate
their feed, please do this by mixing previous feed size with new feed size to
provide equal opportunity for all your stock.

 In conclusion, always feed your new stock of fingerlings or juvenile with feeds
lower than what is recommended by your suppliers (hatchers).
Major Disadvantages and
Challenges of Shallow
Earthen Ponds
BY ENIOLA ABIODUN

ON JULY 25, 2016

IN CATFISH FARMING

Don't waste your time and money. Let me help you finally make a profit from
catfish farming. Click here to see how I can help.

A shallow pond in earthen pond system is a pond that has less than two feet of
water depth. According to my recommendations on this blog, an earthen pond
should have at least three or more feet of water depth to ensure your fishes grows
well. Therefore do not allow anyone to deceive you into digging shallow ponds
because you might have to spend double the money to make necessary corrections.
In this article, I have listed seven reasons why you should not raise your grow out
fishes in a shallow pond.

 Catfish predators find it easier to prey on catfishes in shallow ponds. This

is due to the fact that your fishes have no hidden place in such pond system. For
instance, there are some catfish predator birds that are up to three feet in height.
These set of birds can easily walk in shallow ponds and attack their victims.
Even when you net your ponds, they can still stand on the net rope and attack
your fishes.
 Water pollution is more frequent and sudden in shallow ponds. Most
farmers mistakenly overstock their shallow ponds because of the large surface
area making them to overrate the carriage capacity of such ponds. Any act of
 overfeeding may change the pond water suddenly. Also, there will be need to
change water as often as possible to avoid spread of diseases.
 Anyone that will want to steal with cropping net in deep ponds will think twice
before embarking on such mission. However shallow ponds make it easier to
steal with cropping net. Almost everyone that knows your pond is shallow can
enter into such pond. Higher percentages of theft in isolated farms were carried
out in shallow ponds.
 Another disadvantage of shallow ponds is that farmers will not be able to
stock as much as such pond should take to avoid challenges related with
overstocking. Hence, shallow pond is a waste of limited land resource as far as
catfish farming is concerned. The reason is that same piece of land that will
contain 5000 pieces of catfishes in a deep pond of four feet may not contain
more than 2500 pieces of fishes in a shallow pond of two feet or less.
 In case of flood, shallow ponds can be easily overwhelmed and fishes taken
away because there is small depth to protect fishes. Deep ponds do better in
hiding fishes in situations of flood.
 Sudden change in water temperature is another shortcoming of shallow
pond. Cold or hot temperatures easily reflect on shallow ponds. As a matter of
fact, growth of fishes in such ponds is always affected due to the fact that
changes in water condition affect feeding pattern.
 I have said it times without numbers that shallow ponds are not the best type of
pond for raising big fishes. Big fishes always love to hide their body even when
feeding. Your fishes may not eat well in shallow ponds when they reach certain
size because they feel insecure. In fact they sometimes become restless in such
condition.
However, there are other good sides of shallow ponds, some of which include:

 Fries and fingerlings performs better in earthen ponds that are shallow in
depth although they must be transferred to deeper and bigger ponds for
continuous better performance.
 Cropping is easier in shallow ponds for you might not need to consult expert
croppers before you can harvest your fishes.
 I will not forget to add that treatment of diseases is more efficient and
effective in shallow ponds.
 Lastly, general pond management is simpler in shallow pond system. It
constitutes no security threat to friend and family that sometime visit the
farm.

How to Make Profit on

Catfishes that Don’t Grow
Well
BY ENIOLA ABIODUN

ON JULY 22, 2016

IN CATFISH FARMING

Don't waste your time and money. Let me help you finally make a profit from
catfish farming. Click here to see how I can help.

Do you know that profitability in catfish farming business is not about how big
your fishes are at the point of sale? You can raise big fishes and still run at loss.
Many farmers believe that they might not make reasonable profit on small-sized
fishes. This is not true. Like I have been saying, big fishes are a product of good
breed, nutritious feed, and good water environment. All these factor help them to
feed in right quantity and convert well. As a matter of fact, one thing you might
notice in fishes that will not grow well is irregular feed consumption. Their feed
consumption pattern is often abnormal. For instance, by the time a thousand pieces
of catfish should be consuming 20 kg of feed per feeding arrangement, they will
consume around half of what they need to eat. There isn’t much problem when you
notice. Just ensure you don’t waste your feed by dumping the feed in the pond.
You can still make reasonable profit on such fishes that would not grow well if
only you can apply right sales techniques. Quote me! Selling right or wrong will
definitely affect your profit rate in such a situation. In this article, I have
recommended at least three ways you can use to improve profit when your fish fail
to grow as expected.

 Boycott middlemen and sell directly to individuals, hotels, canteens and

event centers, etc, through temporary sales outlets. This might not sound
reasonable when you have large tonnes of such fishes to sell. You can combine
the direct sales strategy with this approach I am about to recommend. Sell
directly to buyers that buy the exact sizes you have in your pond because they
tend to pay better than those that buy any size or all sizes. Endeavour to identify
the right consumer for your size. Please do not be in a haste to sell. Many
buyers are willing to buy your fish size at good price. One thing I have
observed about fish buyers is that they will always promise a better price if
your fishes are the other way round. Never mind; get the best price for you
sizes by comparing difference price lists from various buyers.
 Add value to your small fishes by processing them through Oven Dry
method. By so doing you double your rate of returns though with a bit of extra
labor and cost. I will recommend this method to those that produce in small
quantity. You can get your sales all year round through oven drying your fishes
after harvest. You will be surprise with the numbers of retailer that will be
willing to buy from you.
 Never bother to hold such fishes for too long a time. Fishes that would not
grow well are better sold at four months old or latest by four and half months
old. Holding them further increases your waste and reduces your expected
profit.
The Growth Performance of African Catfish (Clarias
gariepinus) Fed Commercially Prepared Imported Fish
Feeds

Abstract: The experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different imported fish
feeds on the performance of juvenile African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus). A-13 week feeding trial
was conducted using 225 juveniles which were randomly assigned to five treatment groups in 15
indoor plastic tanks at a stocking rate of 15 fish per tank and three (3) replicates per treatment.
The fish were fed at 5% body weight, twice daily. The five treatments were Coppens (T 1), Aqua
(T2), Ranna (T 3), Pira (T 4) and Durante (T 5). Data for each parameter was subjected to one-way
analysis of variance (ANOVA) while means of various results were compared at 5% level of
significance. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the weight gain among the treatments,
with 54.07g and 21.73g for fish fed with Aqua and Rana respectively. Also, there were significant
differences in the specific growth rate (SGR) as well as the protein effici ency ratio (PER) among
the feed brands with Aqua and Rana having 2.79 and 1.97 as well as 1.49 and 1.12 respectively.
In all the treatments, there were significant differences (P<0.05) in the survival rates of the fish
with the highest percentage in fish fed with Coppens (93.33%). A kilogram of Aqua and Pira feeds
each cost $1.75 while the estimated costs of feeding one individual fish to a weight gain of 1kg
using the same feeds were $2.78 and $3.73 respectively. Although, from this feeding trial, it is
expensive to raise a kilogramme of fish using Pira fish feed, but due to the high survival rate, it is
recommended for catfish production. It is assumed that the biomass harvested will make up for the
cost incurred.

Keywords: African Catfish, Growth Performance, Imported Fish Feed

Contents
AbstractKeywords1. Introduction2. Material and Method 2.1. Experimental Fish, Rearing
Conditions and Feeding Trial2.2. Growth Parameters2.3. Statistical Analysis 3. Results and
Discussion4. ConclusionAcknowledgementReferences

1.Introduction
Fish is an important source of high quality protein in human diet, providing about 16% of the
animal protein consumed by the world’s population [1], [2]. It accounts for 20% of animal protein
consumed in Africa [3], [4] and is also an important source of other nutrients such as vitamins A, B
and D as well as calcium, iron and iodine [5]. Aquaculture, the farming of aquatic organisms [6], [7]
including fish, molluscs, crustacean and aquatic plant is necessary in meeting the protein need of
Nigerians [8]. Aquaculture has grown by 6.9% per annum since 1970 [9] and now provides half of
global fish supply [10]. As global demand continues to grow, there are opportunities for
aquaculture to expand sustainably [9]. In Nigeria, it remains the only option that may ensure the
maintenance of the current level of per capita supply of fish of 6.6 kg/year especially with the
declining situation of capture fisheries [11]. The African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) is the major
species cultured in Nigeria because of its high growth rate, good flesh quality, tolerance to poor
water quality, ability to withstand high stocking densities, and good taste [ 12].
In aquaculture, fish requires adequate food supply in the right proportions and with proper
nutritional contents needed for growth, energy, reproduction, movement, and other activities [ 6],
[7]. Fish feeds in sustainable fish culture system, has been reported to acco unt for 40-60% of the
total recurrent cost of production [8], [6] which to a large extent determines the viability and
profitability of fish farming enterprise [7]. Fish feeds are used in aquaculture to increase production
and maximize profit [13]. Fish feed technology is one of the least developed sectors of aquaculture
in Africa and other developing countries of the world [14], [7] and for aquaculture to be highly
successful in Nigeria, there is need for good quality and affordable feed [ 15] because [16] opined
that the quality of a feed is a function of how well that feed meets the nutrient requirements of a
 fish. Thus, the need for fish feed importation into the country which gave rise to different brands
presently available in Nigeria market. Although, few studies have compared the growth response
of fish to local and imported feeds [17], [18], there is a dearth of information on the comparison of
growth response of catfish fed with different imported feeds. Therefore, this work compared the
growth response of Clarias gariepinus fed with five brands of commonly used imported feeds by
the fish farmers in Nigeria.

2.Material and Method

2.1.Experimental Fish, Rearing Conditions and Feeding Trial

300 fingerlings of Clarias gariepinus were obtained from a local hatchery in Ibadan, Oyo state. The
fish were transported in a 50-litre plastic bowl to Fisheries Laboratory, Department of Fisheries
Technology, Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology; and were acclimatized
for two weeks. During the period of acclimatisation, the fish were fed ad libitum according to [19] at
5% body weight twice daily at 8am and 4pm (local time) as recommended by [20] with a diet of
45% crude protein. Feed not consumed and faecal matters were siphoned every two days interval.
At the end of the acclimatization period, 225 fish (with average weight of 3.12 ± 0.04g) were
randomly selected and stocked into 15 60-liter experimental plastic aquaria with each aquarium
holding 15 fish. To prevent fish from jumping out, the aquaria were covered with a 5mm mesh size
net material. Feeding was suspended for 24 hours before the com mencement of feeding trials to
increase appetite and reception for new diets as recommended by [21]. 5 imported feeds
comprising Coppens (T 1), Aqua (T 2), Ranna (T 3), Pira (T 4) and Durante (T 5) were used for this
study. The feeds used contained different levels of components as shown in Table 1. Each test
diet was hand-fed to triplicate groups at 5% body weight twice daily at 8am and 4pm (local t ime)
for 13 weeks (91 days).
The water in the tanks was changed bi-weekly while the water quality parameters such as
temperature and dissolved oxygen were measured daily with digital YSI DO meter (YSI, Model 57)
while pH was measured thrice weekly with electronic pH meter (metter Toledo, Model 320) in each
aquaria throughout the experimental period. All fish were counted and weighed every 7 days for
growth sampling during the experimental period and no feed was given to the fish on the day of
sampling. At the end of the experiment, the final mean weight, specific growth rate, food
conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, survival rate and feed cost per kg weight gain were
calculated according to [22], [23] and [24]. The exchange rate of Nigerian Naira to U.S Dollar is
₦160 = $1.
The proximate composition of the five imported feeds given by the manufacturers is presented in
Table 1. Coppens had the lowest crude protein of 42% while Aqua, Durante, Pira and Rana
contain 45% each. In crude lipid content, Durante had the highest with 14% while Aqua had the
lowest with 2%. Other details are shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Proximate composition of the experimental feeds.
Treatments
Parameters
Aqua Coppens Durante Pira Rana

Crude protein 45.0 42.0 45.0 45.0 45.0

Crude lipid 2.0 13.0 14.0 8.0 12.0

Crude fibre 3.0 1.8 2.8 2.8 2.5

Ash 0.9 7.4 7.0 17.0 9.5

2.2.Growth Parameters
Growth performance of the fish was determined using the following parameters:

2.2.1.Mean Weight Gain (g) (MWG)

MWG = wt2 –wt1
Where:
wt1 = initial mean weight of fish at time T1
wt2 = final mean weight of fish at time T2

2.2.2.Specific Growth Rate (SGR)

Where:
wf = final average weight at the end of the experiment
wi = initial average weight at the beginning of the experiment
Loge = the base of Natural Logarithm.
t = number of days for the experiment

2.2.3.Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR)

2.2.4.Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER)

2.2.5.Survival Rate (%)

2.3.Statistical Analysis
Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). Significant difference means ( P<
0.05) were separated using Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test (Duncan). The statistical analysis
was done using SPSS (Windows version 15.0).

3.Results and Discussion

Growth parameters data are great tools for evaluating the effect of feed on cultured fish. These
parameters include: weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency
ratio, survival rate as well as feed cost per kg weight gain. Mean weight and feed utilization
of Clarias gariepinus juveniles fed with five commercial imported fish feed brands over a period of
91 days is given in Table 2.
Table 2. Feed utilization of Clarias gariepinus juveniles fed with five commercial imported fish feed
brands.
At the beginning of the feeding trial, the mean initial body weight of the fish was 3.12±0.2g. From
Table 2, Aqua had the highest final biomass and percentage weight gain of 57.18g and 1734.87
respectively, while Rana had the lowest with the values of 24.82g and 704.01 for final biomass and
percentage weight gain respectively. Although, there were significant differences ( P<0.05) in the
weight gain among the treatments, no significant difference existed among Coppens, Durante and
Pira. Also, Aqua had the highest specific growth rate of 2.79. In the same vein, there were
significant differences in the specific growth rate (SGR) among the treatments, though; no
difference existed among Coppens, Durante and Pira. The results of the nutrient utilization clearly
showed that, the best feed was Aqua with FCR and PER values of 1.69 and 1.49 respectively.
There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in FCR among Aqua, Durante and Pira with FCR of
1.59, 1.88 and 1.79 respectively. However, these feeds were significantly different from Rana with
FCR of 2.13, though; no difference existed between Coppens and Rana. There existed significant
differences (P<0.05) in the survival rate among the treatments with Coppens having the highest
survival rate of 93.33%, though; no significant difference ( P>0.05) existed between Coppens and
Pira.
Water quality parameters recorded during the feeding trials fell within the suitable ranges
for Clarias gariepinus culture. Water temperature ranged from 21.3°C to 30.2°C, with an average
of 27.5 ± 0.2°C; Water pH ranged from 6.70 to 8.20, with an average of 6.5 ± 0.1 while Dissolved
oxygen ranged from 4.2 to 7.76 mg/l, with an average of 6.30 ± 0.14 mg/L.
The results of the physico-chemical parameters of the culture medium agrees with the report of [ 7],
where the water temperature ranged from 20.0 to 33.7°C, pH ranged from 6.88 to 8.51 and the
Dissolved oxygen ranged from 4.2 to 7.76 mg/l.
These results also compare well with comparative feeding trials of [ 25], [26] on Clarias spp. It was
revealed in Table 2 that there were significant differences in the feed conversion r atio (FCR)
among the brands with Rana having the highest value of 2.13. According to [ 27], FCRs should
never go above 2. There might be other factors responsible for this high value since [27] opined
that feed conversion ratios vary among fish species, sizes and activity levels of fi sh, environmental
parameters and the culture system used. It could therefore be concluded that one or more of these
factors were responsible for the results in this feeding trial. Generally, since feed is expensive, [ 28]
reported that feed conversion ratio (FCR) is a predictor in determining the efficiency of the feed
used. In all the treatments, there were significant differences ( P<0.05) in the survival rates of the
fish with the highest percentage in fish fed with Coppens (93.33%) as shown in Table 2. Although,
the physico-chemical parameters of the water in the culture medium were favourable, the different
survival rates recorded might be due to the culture medium because [29], [30] reported high
survival rates ranging from 98.5–99.5% in cage culture system. The proximate composition of the
feeds used in this trial might be responsible partly for the results in this experiment. According to
[31], significant highest growth performance of C. gariepinus juveniles was found in the diet that
contained < 2% fiber content. This could be due to the inability of the f ish digesting and utilizing
the high fiber content in the feed. High level of fiber content in feed has been observed to slow the
 growth of C. gariepinus fingerlings [32], [33]. Also, [34] noted a better growth performance of C.
gariepinus on diet containing 9.3% ash content while [35] opined that ash content in the feed of C.
gariepinus should not be less than 8%. The quality and quantity of the protein in the imported
feeds in this study could also be a factor responsible for the results obtained because [ 36]
reported that the African catfish Clarias gariepinus and Heterobranchus bidorsalis tend to require
at least 40% crude protein for normal growth.
Mostly, economic benefits from fish culture operations are based on estimates from gross and net
yields. The economic profitability of using the five imported fish feeds for the culture of Clarias
gariepinus is presented in Table 3.
Table 3. Cost-benefit evaluation of the five imported feeds used in feeding trials.
Feeds
Parameters
Aqua Coppens Durante Pira Rana

Cost of 1kg ($) 1.75 2.19 2.19 1.75 1.75

AFQ 85.97±1.05 59.01±0.95 68.00±0.57 71.30±2.46 46.28±0.44

MWG 54.07±4.37 30.26±2.63 36.17±9.65 39.83±5.21 21.73±2.11

PWG 1734.87±142.28 969.77±84.29 1165.88±312.28 1282.07±168.87 704.01±68.58

FCR 1.59±0.06 1.95±0.13 1.88±0.33 1.79±0.11 2.13±0.15

ACF 0.15 0.13 0.15 0.12 0.08

ECF 1kg fish 2.78 4.27 4.12 3.13 3.73

Note: AFQ-Average feed quantity used; MWG- Weight gained; PWG- Percentage weight gained;
FCR- Feed conversion ratio; ACF-Average cost of feeding; ECF: Estimated cost of feed for
producing 1kg of fish $1 (N160.00); Data = Mean + standard deviation.
For instance, a kilogram of Aqua and Pira feeds each cost $1.75 while the estimated costs of
feeding one individual fish to a weight gain of 1kg using the same feeds were $2.78 and $3.73.
From Table 3, Aqua and Coppens had the least and highest costs respectively, of feeding one
individual fish to a weight gain of 1kg. Sometimes, lower costs could be attributed to good feed
quality and acceptance of feed by fish. The total quantity of feed fed and the high price of feed per
kilo, can greatly affect the cost of production and the profit index generated from the sale of fish.
The high value of producing 1kg of fish from this study might be due to the culture medium used
for this experiment. This value probably might be reduced if produced in a more conventional
medium.

4.Conclusion
Growth parameters data are great tools for evaluating the effect of feed on cultured fish. It was
revealed in this study that there were significant differences in the feed brands with respect to the
weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, survival rate as
well as feed cost per kg weight gain. The quality and quantity of feed used in fish culture are the
major factors in determining profitability because feed represents the largest single expenditure in
semi-intensive or intensive culture operations [37]. Although, from this feeding trial, it is expensive
to raise a kilogramme of fish using Coppens and Pira fish feeds, but due to the high survival rates,
they are recommended for catfish production. It is assumed that the biomass harvested will make
up for the cost incurred.

Acknowledgement
 We would like to appreciate Mr. Ojo-Daniel, A. H of the fish biology laboratory at Federal College
of Animal Health and Production Technology (FCAH&PT) Ibadan, for his assistance during the
feeding trials.

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38. Review of Feeding Practices for Channel Catfish Production
39. World Aquaculture, 32(4): 16-17 & 68.

40.
41. (view also as PDF)
42.
43. William A. Wurts, Ph.D., Senior State Specialist for Aquaculture
44. Kentucky State University CEP at UK Research and Education Center
45. P.O. Box 469, Princeton, KY 42445

46. www.ca.uky.edu/wkrec/Wurtspage.htm
47.
48. Feeding can account for as much as 50 percent of the cost of commercial channel catfish
production. Offering too little feed at the beginning of the production season (April to June)
can result in fish not reaching market size by autumn. However, feeding too much toward
 the end of summer can cause poor water quality, which can reduce growth and increase
expense because of poor food conversion ratios (FCRs). The following guidelines for good
feeding practices can improve catfish performance and increase farmers' profits.
49.
50. There are several general rules for feeding catfish. However, there are always exceptions to
the rules. For example, the percent of body weight (percent BW) fed and the FCR change as
fish size increases. But before discussing exceptions, it is important to summarize and
review the basic feeding practices.
51.
52. Having the Right Feed
53.
54. It is important to purchase a 28-32 percent protein, 100 percent nutritionally-
complete pelleted feed. At water temperatures above 65o F it should be presented in the
form of a floating pellet, and the feeding response should be observed. Between 60 and 65º
F it is preferable to mix a slow-sinking feed with a floating feed, and below 60º F a sinking
feed is needed. The feed should be distributed as evenly as possible over the entire pond
surface, and with the prevailing wind. No more feed should be purchased than can be used
during a 60 to 90 day period beyond the manufacturing date.
55.
56. Feeding to Satiation
57.
58. The practice of satiation feeding always provides the correct amount of feed (percent BW)
for water temperatures above 60º F. When feeding to satiation the fish should be offered
only what they will eat (clean up) in 20 to 25 minutes once a day. However, no more than
100 lb/ac with aeration and no more than 30 lb/ac without aeration should be offered. This
applies equally to body weight feeding (see below).
59.
60. Body Weight Feeding (percent BW)
61.
62. This practice is most commonly used when the farmer has an accurate estimate of total fish
weight in the pond. The daily feed is provided as a percent of total weight. For feed
calculations, the percent is in decimal form (e.g. 3 percent = 3/100 = 0.03).
63.
64. Water temperatures are again influential. In general, for spring and autumn feeding (cool
weather) water temperatures in large local reservoirs are good indicators of pond water
temperatures. Pond temperatures are colder in winter and warmer in summer than those in
local reservoirs.
65.
66. At 50-60º F, feed 0.5-1.0 percent BW (or 5-10 lb feed/1000 lb fish, daily) using sinking feed;
67. At 60-70º F, feed 2.0 percent BW (or 20 lb feed/1000 lb fish, daily);
68. At 70-86º F, feed 3.0 percent BW (or 30 lb feed/1000 lb fish, daily);
69. At 90-95º F, feed 0.5-1.0 percent BW daily;
70. Above 95º F, feed no more than 0.5 percent BW every three days.
71. Note also that the percent BW fed changes with fish size.
72.
 73. Timing of Feeding
74.
75. Dissolved oxygen levels must be higher than 3.0 ppm (mg/1), preferably 5.0 ppm. For fish
under intensive production (>2000 lb/ac) the feed should be offered between 10:00
am and 1:00 pm. Under extensive production (<2000 lb/ac) the fish will feed more
aggressively if food is offered between 4:00 and 7:00 pm.
76.
77. Growth and Conversion - Catch Them Young
78.
79. As channel catfish grow their feed intake as percent BW decreases (Table 1). But the FCR
increases; that is, the amount of feed it takes to produce a pound of fish increases. When
water temperatures are between 75 and 85º F, catfish fry will consume feed at 10 percent
BW daily, and 15-inch food fish will eat at a rate of 1.5 percent BW daily. FCRs for 6-inch fish
and 15-inch fish will be 1.1 and 1.9, respectively. This means that it takes 1.1 lb of feed to
produce a 1.0-lb gain in 6-inch catfish, and 1.9 lb of feed for a 1.0-lb gain in 15-inch fish, or
73 percent more feed for the same amount of growth. Because fingerlings and juvenile
channel catfish (fish less than 0.5 lb each) are growing much faster, require more feed, and
convert food to weight gain more efficiently; producers should do their best job of feeding
when fish are young.
80.
81.

Table 1. Food conversion ratios (FCR) and

percent body weight (percent BW) consumed at
various sizes and optimum water temperature
conditions (adapted from Robinson et. al. 1998)

Fish Size Daily

(lbs/1000 fish) FCR Percent BW

60 1.1 4.5

100 1.3 3.75

600 1.7 2.5

1000 1.9 1.4

2000 2.1 1.1

82.

83. How Much Protein, 28 or 32 Percent?

84.
85. Commercial catfish farmers must use feeds that are 100 percent nutritionally
complete. Statistically, research has shown that catfish fed complete diets containing 32
percent protein do not grow significantly better than those receiving feed with only 28
percent protein content. Because fingerlings and juvenile catfish are growing much faster
 than larger fish, it is better to use feeds with 32 percent protein for young catfish. However,
as fish get larger (greater than 0.5 lb each), complete feeds containing 28-30 percent protein
might be a more practical choice.
86.
87. To ensure good growth, a catfish farmer should use a 32 percent protein diet for the first
two months after stocking fingerlings. A 30 percent protein feed could be fed for the second
two months, then 28 percent protein for the last two months before harvest and
restocking. The 28 percent protein diet could be used as a low-cost finishing feed at a time
in the production season when the greatest amount of food is used per acre. This reduces
the cost of feeding large quantities (80 to 100 lb feed/acre daily), and lowers the levels of
nitrogen wastes – ammonia and nitrite – in the water.
88.
89. Protein contains approximately 16 percent nitrogen. The protein in feed is the source of
nitrogen wastes in fish production ponds. Decreasing the protein content from 32 percent
to 28 percent will reduce nitrogen wastes by 12.5 percent. This also helps lower the risk of
ammonia and nitrite toxicity during the last two months of production, when these wastes
are at their highest concentrations.
90.
91. Under-stocking or Multiple Batch Feeding Practices
92.
93. Producers can closely estimate how many catfish are put into their ponds because they
purchase and stock fingerlings by weight. One thousand, 6-8 inch catfish fingerlings weigh
approximately 100 lb. If a farmer stocks 500 lb of 6-8 inch fingerlings in a 1.0-ac pond the
stock density is some 5,000 fish/ac. Because the weight of fingerlings stocked in each pond
is recorded, the most effective way to start feeding fingerlings is by the percent BW
method. However, if there are already larger fish in the pond when fingerlings are stocked,
a practice called "under-stocking" or "multiple batch production," feeding becomes more
complicated. For example, assuming the producer stocks a new pond with 500 lb of 6-8 inch
fingerlings for the first time, it is easy to calculate the amount of food needed. This size
fingerling will consume a quantity of feed as high as 4.0 percent BW daily when
temperatures are between 75 and 85º F, equivalent to 20 lb of feed. But if the 1.0-ac pond
already contains 5,000 catfish each weighing 1.3 lb and consuming a total of 86.5 lb of feed
daily, then the addition of 20 lb more food for the fingerlings brings the total to slightly more
than 106 lb of feed per day.
94.
95. At this new level, the farmer will exceed the maximum daily feeding rate of 100 lb/ac. But a
daily rate of 100 lb/ac will not provide enough food for the fingerlings, and especially as the
food-size fish are larger and more aggressive. So, with 100 lb/ac of floating feed and 6,500
lb of larger fish crowding out the smaller fingerlings at mealtime, the fingerlings are not
likely to perform well in terms of either growth or survival. Furthermore, exceeding the 100
lb/ac limit may cause deterioration of water quality to the detriment of all the fish.
96.
97. But there are some practical alternatives for "multiple batch production" or "under-
stocking." First, selectively harvest fish weighing over 1.0-1.25 lb before stocking the next
batch of fingerlings. This will reduce the number of larger fish present and lower the total
 amount of feed needed, and allow the farmer to provide enough additional food for the new
fingerlings without exceeding the maximum daily limit. Second, to help fingerlings find feed
while the big fish are in a frenzy to get the floating pellets, a smaller size sinking pellet
containing 32 percent protein can be fed together with the floating feed. This practice can
be continued for one to two months after the new fingerlings are released. Accurate
feeding of "multiple batch" fingerlings can be achieved with the help of a feeding table
(Table 2) which adjusts feeding rates on a weekly basis. And using a floating feed for the
larger catfish, which were not removed, will enable easy adaptation to satiation rates as the
fish continue to grow.
98.

Table 2. Feeding table for 1000 channel catfish

fingerlings in “multiple batch” production, at
water temperatures of 70 to 86°F (adapted
from Wurts and Wynne 1995).
Fish Size Time Total Daily Feed
Weight Ration (lbs)
(lbs) (days)
(lbs)

0.1 0 100 4

0.12 7 120 4.6

0.15 14 150 5.4

0.19 21 190 6.6

0.23 28 230 7.5

0.29 35 290 8.9

0.35 42 350 10.2

0.43 49 430 11.9

0.53 56 530 14
99.
100. When practicing this continuous production method, it is important to keep good
records about stocking, harvest, and feeding. These data can be used to estimate fish size,
total weight of fish in a pond, feeding rates, FCR, and overall survival. Record the number of
pounds stocked and harvested, average individual weights of the fingerlings stocked and
food fish harvested (weight per 1000 fish) and the total amount of feed fed to each
pond. This information is every farmer's personal scorecard and provides information on
profitability of the farm.
101.
102. Seasonal Adjustments of Feeding Rates
103.
104. Channel catfish are cold-blooded animals (ectotherms). As water temperature
increases and decreases so does the feeding activity of the catfish. To prevent excessive and
 underfeeding, rates must be adjusted as temperature changes. As long as water
temperatures are above 60º F, satiation feeding will provide the correct amount of food
(percent BW) required by channel catfish. When water temperatures drop below 60º F,
channel catfish are reluctant to feed at the surface, and satiation feeding is no longer a
reliable practice. It is difficult to observe feeding activity when the food sinks and the fish do
not come up to feed. This is true whether it is autumn or spring.
105.
106. Catfish will still consume floating feed when water temperature is between 60 and
65º F. But when the temperature falls below 60º F, a sinking pellet should be used.
107.
108. Mixing a slow-sinking feed with floating feed during this transitional period (60-65º
F) allows fish to become accustomed to sinking feed when water temperatures are falling in
autumn, and floating feed when temperatures rise again in spring.
109.
110. The simplest way to adjust feeding when water temperature is between 50 and 60º
F is to reduce by half the amount of feed consumed when the temperatures are 60 to 70º
F. That is, if average daily feed consumption is 66 lb/ac when temperatures are 60 to 70º F,
the daily feeding rate is reduced to 33 lb/ac when temperatures are between 50 and 60º
F. In this same example, if water temperatures drop below 50º F, the standard
recommendation is to feed 33 lb/ac every other day or every third day. When ice begins to
form around the edges of ponds, feeding should be halted.
111.
112. Because feed is the largest single operational cost of any intensive farm, feeding
accurately can make the difference between profit and loss in commercial channel catfish
farming. Knowing the general rules and understanding the exceptions are powerful
management tools. The producer who takes a little extra time to observe feeding activity
and adjust rates, to keep and maintain accurate records and even to create custom feeding
tables, has a much better chance of owning the farm rather than betting it.
113.

HOW MUCH FEED, WHAT SIZE AND

HOW FREQUENTLY SHOULD YOU
FEED YOUR CATFISH (FREE
CALCULATOR INCLUDED)
In Catfish Farming by Lawrence TamunokiriJune 18, 201512 Comments
The question “How much feed should I give my fish?” is an all important
question that directly affects profits for any farmer. If fish are underfed, growth
rate is slowed down, and if overfed, it reduces profits since feed is the highest
operating expense in any farming business.
Feeding fish correctly means:

1. Giving feed of the correct nutritional quality for the specified age of fish,
2. Feeding the right feed size for easy consumption (Feed Size),
3. Feeding the correct amounts (Feed Ration),
4. Feeding at the right time(s) each day (Feeding Frequency).

The amount of feed your fish needs or Feed Rations and the size of feed
pellets varies over time throughout the gestation period of the fish and it
should be adjusted as the fish grows. Smaller sized fish have higher protein
requirement, eat smaller sized feeds and have quicker growth rates, so their
rations should be adjusted more frequently (preferably weekly) than the larger
sized fish which consume larger pellets and could be adjusted every 2 weeks.

In order to calculate the amount of feed needed for each pond, certain
information highlighted below needs to be collected and input into the formula
to get the desired result. The required information are as follows:

 The number of fish in the pond;

 The average weight of the fish (weight in a sample / no. of fish in sample);
 Feed Rate which is a percentage of its body weight (this data could be
gotten from a feed chart of a feed production company or study materials)

Feed ration per pond= average fish size (weight) x feed rate (%) x total
number of fish in the pond.

E.g. If an African catfish of 180 grams requires a ration of 2.5% of its body
weight, how much food should it be given per day?

Amount of feed to be fed per day = 180 grams x 2.5/100

= 4.5 grams feed per fish per day.

If there are 1000 fish in the pond, then; = 4.5 g x 1000 fish = 4,500 g (4.5 kg)
of feed should be weighed out for the day.

It is important to note that fish do not feed at the same intensity every day.
The amount of food they take in each day depends on various factors like the
water temperature and other stresses (high pH, ammonia, disease etc.) that
are available in the environment.
Feeding Frequency has a role to play in the utilization of the feeds by the fish.
Feeding frequency is the number of times fish in a pond are fed daily. The
frequency is important in order to reduce starvation and have a uniform growth
rate. Smaller sized fish should be fed more frequently as their stomach is too
small to hold food they would require for the whole day, whilst fish from 400 g
and above could be fed once a day.

For example, the 1,000 fish above requiring 4.5 kg daily ration should be fed
twice daily. This means that the 4.5 kg of feed should be divided into 2.25 kg
to be fed in the Morning and Evening.

Also, the Feed Size is important as fish would find it hard to consume larger
sized pellets.

HOW TO EASILY CALCULATE FEED RATION, FREQUENCY AND

SIZE

In order to easily calculate Feed ration, size and the feeding frequency, we
have been able to create a spreadsheet taking into consideration all the
necessary information simplifying the process for other fish farmers.

Click on the this link make use of the Free Calculator