TY - JOUR T1 - Artificial Propagation of African Clariid Catfish, Heterobranchus bidorsalis (Geoffory Saint Hilaire 1809) AU - , Fagbenro, O.A. AU - , O. T. Adebayo JO - Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances VL - 3 IS - 8 SP - 527 EP - 531 PY - 2004 DA - 2001/08/19 SN - 1680-5593 DO - javaa.2004.527.531 UR - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=javaa.2004.527.531 KW - AB - Artificial spawning was induced in female African giant catfish, Heterobranchus bidorsalis by single intramuscular hormone injections of carp pituitary suspensions (CPS) at 4 mg/kg body weight (bw), 1.5ml of homoplastic pituitary suspension (HPS) per fish or human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) at 2000 IU/kg bw, over three months of rainy season (June to August) in Nigeria. At ambient temperature (27?1oC), ovulation occurred within 14-18 h post injection. Egg hydration gave 16-20% increase in egg diameter. Hatching rates were high (>84%) and similar for all hormone-treated fish (P>0.05). The percentage normal larvae hatched ranged from 81.6% to 86%. They were reared in 500-l circular tanks and fed initially on zooplankton, followed by brine shrimp nauplii and finally weaned onto commercial fish fry diet. During the larval rearing trials for 30 days, survival rates >82% were achieved. Although the four hormones tested were effective inducers, the use of HPS would save operational costs in fish hatchery management. ER -