PROXIMATE COMPOSITION OF CULTURED (Oreochromis niloticus) AND (Clarias gariepinus) BASED ON COMMERCIAL FEED IN BENIN

The aim of this study was to assess and compare the proximate composition of cultured Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) provided by TONON Foundation in Benin. Thus, thirty (30) samples of fresh fish were categorized into five size intervals each containing six (6) fish such as: [100; 200 g], [300; 500 g] for the Nile tilapia and [300; 500 g], [600; 800 g] and size ≥ 900 g for the African catfish. The biochemical analysis of the moisture, crude protein, ash, dry matter, calcium and iron of the fish fillets were done in the laboratory. The results revealed no significant difference (p> 0.05) in crude protein, calcium and ash contents between the two fish species. The percentage of moisture and dry matter were significantly different (p <0.05) in all size intervals and both species, except for the intervals [300; 500 g] and weight ≥ 900 g. This study indicates that the proximate composition in both species varies by size intervals except for crude protein and dry matter. The nutritional values obtained would be useful for the consumers in choosing fish.