REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF HATCHERY-BRED, WILD-CAUGHT BROODSTOCK, AND THEIR OUTBREED OF THE AFRICAN CATFISH Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)

Victor Oscar Eyo (Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Nigeria Maritime University, Delta State, Nigeria)
Felix Eze (Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Nigeria Maritime University)
Ochuko Joshua Eriegha (Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Nigeria Maritime University)

Indonesian Aquaculture Journal
Vol 15, No 2 (2020): (December, 2020)

This study was conducted to evaluate the reproductive performance of hatchery-bred and wild-caught broodstock of Clarias gariepinus. Thirty pairs of each hatchery-bred and wild-caught broodstock (15 females and 15 males) was used for the study. Induced breeding was carried out in four groups with three replications at a ratio of 1:1 by hypophysation method. Group A: hatchery-bred male and hatchery-bred female (HBM m + HBF f); B: wild-caught male and wild-caught female (WCM m + WCF f), C: hatchery-bred female and wild-caught male (HBF f+ WCM m) and D: wild-caught female and hatchery-bred male C. gariepinus (WCF f + HBM m). Results showed that egg diameter, sperm motility, sperm density, and male GSI were not significantly different (P>0.05) whereas ovary weight, sperm volume, fecundity, female GSI, and percentage fertilization were significantly higher (P<0.05) in hatchery-bred broodstock than wild-caught broodstock. Hatchability was significantly higher (P<0.05) in Group C and D than A and B. In conclusion, a better reproductive performance in C. gariepinus with an economic advantage could be recorded through the combination of wild-caught and hatchery-bred broodstock.