Clarias Spp.

Clarias sp. is known for its tolerance to poor environmental conditions, disease resistance, good growth rate, as well as wide market acceptability. Clarias spp. fingerlings and post fingerlings are reputable for their hardiness and meat quality.

• Clarias gariepinus has all the qualities of an aggressive and successful invasive species. Its high fecundity, flexible phenotype, rapid growth, wide habitat preferences, tolerance to extreme water conditions, and the ability to subsist on a wide variety of prey can devastate indigenous fish and aquatic invertebrate populations.
• Generally, Clarias gariepinus have mostly been used as ‘police fish to control over-breeding in mixed-sex tilapia culture in earthen ponds.
• African catfish reproduce in response to environmental stimuli such as a rise in water level and inundation of low-lying areas.

Morphological characteristics

Body elongate. Head large, depressed, and bony with small eyes. Narrow and angular occipital process;  gill openings wide; air-breathing labyrinthic organ arising from gill arches; first gill arch with 24 to 110 gill rakers;  cleithrum pointed, narrow with longitudinal ridges and with sharpness. Mouth terminal, large. Four pairs of barbels are present.  Long dorsal and anal fins; without dorsal fin spine and adipose fin. Anterior edge of pectoral spine serrated. Caudal fin rounded.  Colour varies from sandy-yellow through gray to olive with dark greenish-brown markings, belly white.

Handling Clarias spp. Fingerlings and Post Fingerlings

• Handling live African catfish is easy because, as long as the skin remains wet, they can stay alive for many days out of water.
• Depending on fish size and market demand, the fish may be steaked; filleted; or sold headed, gutted, and skinned.
• Male African catfish exhibit the best dressing and fillet percentage.
• Compared to other species, C. gariepinus is low in lipid and consequentially has no intense flavour (smell and taste).
• Smoked African catfish are also in high demand be because they can be stored for longer periods without power while retaining nutritional quality.
• These fish are remarkably resilient.