ABSTRACT

Two common fish Feeds; the locally made fish feed and foreign fish feed (coppens) were diluted serially and cultured under laboratory conditions for bacteria and fungi growth. The sub-culture and pure cultures of the samples was obtained after which bacteria isolates was characterized and identified. Determination of Bacterial count was carried out using spread plate count. The result show that bacteria counts from local fish feed was higher than the foreign fish feed and likewise the fungal count. The isolated and identified bacteria include Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aureginosa. Sensitivity test revealed that the gentamycin (antibiotic) had the highest zone of inhibition 18.0 on S.aureus. Out of the 12 samples that was cultured and examined, E. coli and S. aureus was found mostly in both and very few in Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aureginosa. 3 fungi found include Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Rhizopus. This result shows that fish feeds sold in Umuahia have a higher range organisms, this may be as a result of the storage conditions especially unhygienic handling during storage. Long duration of storage should be discouraged and improved storage conditions to prevent fish feed contamination by microorganisms should be recommended.