The hatchability of Clarias gariepinus using Pituitary Extract and Ovaprim Hormones was carried out at the Hatchery unit of the Fisheries Department’s fish Farm of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike , Abia State, Nigeria. twelve catfish brood stocks comprising eight females and four males were used for the breeding exercise. Equal numbers of one male to two females were used across all batch treatments (T1-T3). Batch T1 was administered 100% Ovaprim , T2 received 100% Carp Pituitary Extract-CPE, T3 a combination of both synthetic (50% ovaprim) and CPE (50% CPE). T4 was without any hormonal treatment. The latency periods and temperatures were 12h, 16h, 10h and 0h at 27.8oC, 26.9oC, 27.5o C and 26.6°C, respectively, for T1, T2 T3 and T4. T3 had the highest fertilization and hatchability rates of 78%, and 85% respectively followed by T1(7%, 66%), T2(61%, 56%) and lastly T4(26%, 28%). The hatching duration was equally fastest with T3(18h), followed closely by T1 and T4 at 20h and lastly 23h for T2. Similarly, the survival rates from the highest to the lowest were T3(87.77%), T1(84.44%), T4(81.11%) and T2(76.66%). The mean weight gain and specific growth rate in T3 were equally higher with 0.39g and 10.07% followed by T2 (0.39g & 9.63%), T4 (0.33g & 9.54%) and lowest with T1 having 0.32g and 9.44% respectively. The result also indicated that it was more economical to use ovaprim costing (N 700, 1.71USD) compared to N 1382.4 (3.37USD) with pituitary extract. However, the results showed that both CPE and ovaprim promoted spawning in African catfish. The synergy (T3) had the best fertility, hatchability, and survival rates, and gave the best growth performance. In conclusion, the combined therapeutic dose yielded the overall best in all four parameters of African Clariid Catfish C. gariepinus production and is hereby recommended to fish breeders.
Keywords: catfish, breeding, single dose, combined hormone, No hormone
Corresponding Author: ajapaulo60@gmail.com