NATURAL RESOURCES

DEVELOPMENT
COLLEGE
 TITLE

THE EFFECT OF NIGHT CRAWLER EARTHWORMS AS A

CHEAPER FISH FEED SUPPLEMENT FOR FISH FARMERS
ON THE GROWTH OF Oreochromis niloticus AS
COMPARED TO FISH MEAL
 Prepared by

NAME: MOOBA MWEEMBA NORMAN LWEENDO

STUDENT ID: F/19/10

Supervised By;
NAME:
DESIGNATION:
DEPARTMENT: BASIC SCIENCES AND FISHERIES
 INTRODUCTIO
N
• Aquaculture is one of the vast increasingly sector in
agriculture. This has therefore led to high cost of
production of fish due to an increase in prices of
feed inputs such as fishmeal .
• Conversely, night crawler earthworms can act as a
cheaper alternative of obtaining proteins for their
rich in nutrition content of about 60-61% protein.
 PROBLEM STATEMENT
Due to the high cost and production of the recommended amount of
proteins and fish feed to meet the demands of both the market as well
as that of fish itself, this has therefore led to a low number of people
venturing into aquaculture farming even when the knowledge is highly
available. Hence, there is a need to find an alternative which is
relatively cheaper in order to accommodate anyone with the passion of
venturing into aquaculture.
 JUSTIFICATION
• To reduce the high cost of production of Oreochromis niloticus using
night crawler earthworms that have a relative low cost of production
and contains one of the vital nutritional content(protein) present in
bulk.
• . In addition, not only are these worms cost efficient, but they also
demand for low labour when it comes to production and rearing.
 MAIN OBJECTIVE

To determine the cost of production of Oreochromis niloticus using

night crawler earthworms as compared to fishmeal.
 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
• 1. To determine on the time taken to harvest the fish using night
crawler earthworms as compared to fishmeal.
• 2. To determine the growth rate of Oreochromis niloticus using night
crawler earthworms as compared to fishmeal.
 HYPOTHESIS
1) Null: there is no difference in protein content between the night
crawler earthworms and that of fishmeal.
Alternative: there is a difference in protein content between the night
crawler earthworms and that of fish meal.
2) Null: there is no difference in the time taken to harvest the
Oreochromis niloticus between the fish administered to night crawler
earthworms and that administered to fishmeal.
Alternative: there is a difference in the time taken to harvest the
Oreochromis niloticus between the fish administered to night crawler
earthworms and that administered to fishmeal.
 METHODOLOGY
Study Location
The whole study will be conducted within the premises of NRDC at the
fisheries department’s laboratory right in the fish lab.
 METHODOLOGY
Study design
 The project will begin by rearing the night crawler earthworms in plastic basins or
containers by using cow dung, carton boxes, egg shells(acting as food for the
worms), vegetable leaves, straw and some banana peels for a period of 7-8
weeks.
 2 aquariums replicated in total 4 will be used with each stocked with 20 juveniles.
 The aquariums will have Two(2) control 0%, 100% and Two (2) treatments with the
night crawler, commercial feed.
 Worms will be administered to the fish straight from their basins in equal
proportion as to the fish administered with fishmeal.
 Feeding will be done 3 times a day starting at 09.00hrs, 13.00hrs and at 17.00hrs.
 Data collection and analysis
• Data will be collected and analysed during the research by simply
monitoring the growth rate and weight of fish in all the aquariums at
particular intervals and of course at the same time.
• Growth rate and weight will be determined by weighing the
aquariums on a scale every after 10 days.
• T-test method will be used to determine the growth performance.
BUDGET
 TIME PLAN
PERIOD ACTIVITY
JUNE 1-7 PREPARATION, STOCKING AND REARING OF WORMS IN THE BASINS TO BEGIN THE
REPRODUCTION PROCESS.

JULY REARING AND FEEDING OF WORMS FOR REPRODUCTION TO CONTINUE.

AUGUST STOCKING OF JUVENILES IN AQUARIUMS AT STIPULATED INTERVALS AT 9HRS, 13HRS AND

17HRS.

SEPTEMBER ANALYSING AND COLLECTING OF DATA BY WEIGHING THE AQUARIUMS ON THE SCALE TO
DETERMINE THE WEIGHT GAINED.