Effects of Dietary Aloe barbadensis (Aloeaceae) Leaves on the Intestinal Microbes of African Catfish (Clarias Gariepinus Burchell 1822)

Effects of Aloe barbadensis leaves-paste were examined in Clarias gariepinus fingerlings. Fish were fed diet supplemented with the leaves-paste to determine the effects of the leaves on the intestinal microbes of C. gariepinus fingerlings. Its effects on some growth parameters were also assessed. Experiment was conducted in 40-litre freshwater-filled plastic tanks. 120 C. gariepinus fingerlings (2.33±0.07g) were fed with 40% crude protein diets containing three concentrations of A. barbadensis leavespaste: ABL1-1%; ABL2-2%; ABL3-3%, and control-0% ad libitum twice daily for 12 weeks. Mean weight gain and percentage weight gain increased (p<0.05) as the concentration of A. barbadensis increased. Apparent net protein utilization was highest in ABL1 and decreased as inclusion level increased among fish fed the leaves. Survival rate decreased as concentration of paste increased. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in the total bacterial counts (TBC) in A. barbadensis leaves-paste supplemented diets and the control having the highest TBC (23.67 ± 0.88 x 105 CFU/ml). No growth of total fungal counts (TFC) was observed in ABL1 and there was a reduction in TFC as the concentration increased in the other supplemented diets, and the control having the highest TFC (7.67 ± 0.44 x 105 CFU/ml) The study concluded that 1% A. barbadensis leavespaste could effectively improve the growth performance, nutrient utilization, survival and thus reducing the microbial load of cultured C. gariepinus.