Abstract

The proximate composition of two commercially important freshwater fish species; Clarias gariepinus and Tilapia zillii were determined using standard methods of analysis, fish were grouped based on size (adult and juvenile) and sex (male and female). The highest percentage lipid content of 16.70 ± 0.76 % was observed in adult female T. zillii, while the lowest percentage lipid content of 7.33 ± 0.30 % was observed in juvenile male of C. gariepinus. The highest percentage crude protein contents of 28.55±0.31 % was observed in adult female C. gariepinus, while the lowest protein content of 21.65 ± 0.53 % was observed in juvenile male T. zillii. Fibre content was observed to be highest in adult female T. zillii with a mean value of 5.50 ± 0.5 %, while the lowest fiber content was observed in male juvenile T. zillii with a mean value of 1.33 ± 0.29 %. There were variations (P0.05) when the fibre content was compared within the species except in the juvenile male T. zillii and juvenile female C. gariepinus. The result shows that, female fish of both species fish lad higher lipid and protein contents than their male fish species.

Key words: Lipid, protein, proximate composition, adult, juvenile, freshwater fish