iarjasfrIARJASFRIARJASFR2789-598Xhttps://doi.org/10.47310/iarjasfr.2021.v01i01.013Efficacy of Different Maturity Stages of Indian almond Tree Leaves as Anaesthetics in African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) FingerlingsO.A.AkinrotimiU.U.GabrielJ.O.AiyelojaJ.B.AnyanwuAfrican Regional Aquaculture Center/Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, Aluu. P.M.B. 5122, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, NigeriaDepartment of Fisheries and Aquatic Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.Department of Agricultral Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, NigeriaDepartment of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, Portharcourt, Rivers State, NigeriaThe efficacy of different maturity stages of Indian almond tree leaves (Terminalia catappa) as anaesthetics in  African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) fingerlings was carried out. A total of 180 fingerlings of C.gariepinus were procured from African Regional Aquaculture Centre, (ARAC), Aluu, Port Harcourt. They were exposed to different maturity stages (newly bud, matured and dead) of Indian almond tree leaves extracts at different concentrations of 0.00 (control); 10.00, 20.00, 30.00, 40.00 and 50.00 mg/L.  The results obtained indicated that induction time decreased significantly (p<0.05) as the concentrations of the Indian almond tree leaves extracts increased.  The highest induction time (515.01±11.43 s) was recorded in the fish exposed to newly bud leaves at 50.00mg/l. While the lowest (282.05±11.03 s) was recorded in matured leaves at 50.00mg/l. However, the longest recovery time (980.81±10.00 s) was observed in the fish exposed to   newly bud leaves at 50.00mg and the shortest (682.05±12.02 s) in fingerlings at 50.00mg/l of the leaves extracts. The three stages of maturity in the leaves of Terminalia catappa used in this study induced anaesthesia and recovery at different times at the same concentration. This discrepancy may be explained by the differences in maturity of the leaf that produces the extracts. It is therefore recommended that the matured leaves can be used in quick handling procedures in aquaculture. While the dead and newly bud leaves could be used for light and long sedation activities such as stripping and transportation of fish in aquaculture.