Digestive capabilities of three commensal fish species: carp, Cyprinus carpio L., tilapia, Oreochromis aureus × O. niloticus, and African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822)

Abstract. This paper examines the digestibility of different feed mixtures by three species of fish: carp, Cyprinus carpio L., tilapia, Oreochromis aureus×O. niloticus, and African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822). Protein from poultry sources was digested better by tilapia than by carp or catfish, but no significant difference was found in the case of protein mainly from fish meal. Carp showed the best ability to digest fats, followed by catfish, with tilapia having the least ability. Tilapia digested carbohydrate better than the other two species, however, whether from wheat or corn sources. The same pattern applies to the digestibility of energy.