Homestead Artificial Propagation, Growth And Morphometric Characteristics Of The African Catfish (<i>Carias gariepinus</i>, Pisces: Clariidae)

Thirty (30), eighteen months old gravid females (458.20 ± 2.256) of the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus were injected intramuscularly with different doses (0.00, 10.00, 30.00, 50.00 and 70.00 μg Kg -1 ) of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone analog (LHRHa) at a water temperature of 25 ± 1.00 0 C. Fifteen (15) mature males (453.97 ± 2.13g) received half the dose given to the females and they provided the milt (spermatozoa) used in the artificial fertilization of ovulated eggs from females. The hatched fry were randomly allotted to 15 indoor concrete tanks (0.70 x 1.50 x 0.50m), arranged in 5 rows with 3 replicates per row (5 x 3) and allowed to stay for 10 days. Twelve (12) concrete tanks (8.00 x 4.00 x 1.00m) were used outdoor for the feeding of the advanced fry on formulated ration (CP = 38%) at 5% body weight per day for 7 days. The results of the artificial inducement of the catfish with different doses of LHRHa (10-70 μg Kg -1 ) indicate that there were significant variations in the percent ovulation (P < 0.01), spawn weight (P < 0.01), percent fertilization and survival (P < 0.05) of the fish. The mean body weight, head diameter, standard and total body lengths of the fry also varied significantly among the different hormonal doses (P < 0.05). These results signified that different doses of LHRHa affected the growth and morphometric indices of C. gariepinus fry.