Spawning Performance of Heterobranchus bidorsalis in Sokoto Dry Sub Humid Nigeria using Ovaprim C and Ovatide Hormones

ABSTRACT

Background and Objective: One of the prerequisites for the establishment of sustainable supply of seed is the capacity to control reproductive process of fish in captivity and to acquire high quality seeds to reduce shortage of seeds for stocking ponds. This research determines the effectiveness of Ovaprim and Ovatide hormones for induced ovulation and spawning performance of H. bidorsalis brood fish. Materials and Methods: This study present the effects of different doses of Ovaprim C and Ovatide on induced spawning of H. bidorsalis in two consecutive trials. Three doses each of Ovaprim C (0.25, 0.5, 0.75 mL kg^-1) and Ovatide (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 mL kg^-1) of the female broodstock body weight were administered to three sets each of randomly selected female broodstock with three replicates each in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The best performing dosage of the two hormones were then tried in the subsequent year. Results: The findings indicated that Ovaprim and Ovatide doses induced ovulation at average latency period of 12 h, and incubation at 23 h at temperature of 26.1-29.0°C. Hormonal treatments with Ovaprim (0.5 mL kg^-1) and Ovatide (0.1 mL kg^-1) dosages thrived better and similar ovulation, relative fecundity, fertilization rate and hatching rate in the two years trial. The survival rate of hatchlings after a week of rearing, suggested that hatchlings from brood fish induced with Ovaprim C at 0.25 mL kg^-1 had the least performance. Conclusion: It was concluded that H. bidorsalis brooders performed better on Ovaprim C at 0.5 mL kg^-1 and Ovatide induced at 0.1 mL kg^-1 interms of the reproductive indices tested with reference to the study area.