A work on the comparative use of animal and non-animal wastes as substrates for biogas production in tropical areas is presented. The selected animal wastes are cow dung, pig dung and poultry droppings while the non-animal waste is water hyacinth. The selected animal wastes are common known substrates; however water hyacinth is a predominant invasive aquatic weed anchored mostly in shallow waters and constituting environment problems wherever it thrives. This work compares the potential of water hyacinth in terms of biogas yield capability to the established animal wastes. 20kg of water hyacinth characterized substrate was mixed with water at a ratio of 1:2 and the slurry was fed into a modified metallic digester of 84 litres capacity on a batch basis for 24 days. The system was operated at a mesophilic temperature range of 26 – 32°C. Results of yield indicated water hyacinth showed significant biogas yield with volumetric production at a rate of 1.2litres/day. Gas production was highest on the 18th day with a volume of 2.95 litres/day and corresponding digestion temperature of 30.5°C. Total volume of gas generated was 34.7 litres per 20kg water hyacinth plant as substrate with lag-time of 11 days. Biogas yield was compared with an equivalent 20kg of other common established animal substrates and whereas water hyacinth biogas yield is comparatively lower, it is still a viable gas source due to its abundance along the coastal waters.