This study was conducted to evaluate the growth and profitability of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings fed a diet containing Mucuna Seed Meal (MSM). Fingerlings (300) weighing 6.58 ± 1.42 g were randomly stocked in triplicate in 12 hapas (0.5 m × 0.5 m × 1 m) and fed for 56 days on four isoprotein diets at a feeding rate of 10-4%. The first triplicate was fed the control diet (D0) containing 0% MSM, while the other three were fed the experimental diets D30, D40 and D50 in which processed MSM was included at 30%, 40% and 50%. Control fisheries were performed bi-weekly for total counting and taken measurements. The results obtained indicate that growth performance and body composition of fish fed the experimental diets were significantly improved depending to the inclusion level compared to control diet. Diet D50 induced a Weight Gain (WG) of 93. 89 ± 0.17 g, a Specific Growth Rate (SGR) of 4.87 ± 0.01%/day, and a Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) of 0. 97 ± 0. 02; with significant variations of 26.22 ± 1.15%, 10.27 ± 0.56%, and 24.23 ± 1.30% respectively compared to WG (69.28 ± 0.97 g), SGR (4.36 ± 0.02%/day), and FCR (1.28 ± 0.01) obtained with diet D0. In addition, the whole body composition of pre-adult fish produced with diet D50 was significantly different compared to D0, with nutrient retention (protein=53.92 ± 0.12%, lipid=32.85 ± 0.14%, ash=40.29 ± 0.17 and energy=31.50 ± 0.13%) significantly higher compared to D0 (protein=34.38 ± 0.04%, lipid=29.95 ± 0.01%, ash=29.56 ± 1.86% and energy=21.57 ± 0.11%). Fish fed diet D50 also produced a net return of 12,648.02 XAF, 21.38% higher than the control (9,943.23 XAF). In conclusion, dietary inclusion of 50% MSM gave the best results in terms of fish somatic growth and cost-benefit analysis.
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