Khadijah O. Yusuff & Elizabeth O. Ibidapo-obe

Neem leaf meal has been efficaciously utilized in the several diets of aquaculture species either as immune stimulants, phytobiotics or fish feed replacement and there is an urgent need to derive distinct and tolerated dose on organism physiology, growth and acceptability to consumers. A total of 225 juveniles of African catfish (C. gariepinus) with mean weight of 0.071±0.02kg were fed with experimental diets of graded levels [0% (control), 0.5%, 1%, 1.5% and 2% as treatment 1 to 5 respectively] of neem leafmeal per 100kg of feed for a period of eight weeks. Growth of fish was monitored on weekly basis and mortalities from fish tanks were noted. Fish were subjected to sensory evaluation at the termination of the feeding trial. 15trained panelists were made to evaluate the texture, colour, flavor, sweetness and appearance of the steamed samples using a likeness code rated from 9-3. There is no significant difference (P<0.05) in the mortality rate of experimental fish in all treatments. However, this study revealed that neem leafmeal has a deleterious effect on the growth of fish when incorporated at a level higher than 1.0/kg in diet and also altered the taste and sweetness of fish, which in turn reduce their overall acceptability. Keywords: Neem leafmeal, Catfish fish growth, flesh acceptability 0150