Effects of Different Catfish Pituitary Gland Extract Dosages on Eggs and Hatchlings Quantity of African Catfish, Clarias gariepinus at a Constant Latency Period

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to assess the effects of different dosages of catfish pituitary glands extract (CPGE) on eggs and hatchlings quantity of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus at a constant latency period. In this experiment, four dosages (2 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg, 4 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg of female) were used. Each dosage extracted from a male (300 g to 305 g) was injected to individual female (350 g to 355 g) at three replications and a total of 12 females were injected. The females were striped after 17 hour at 26°C to 28°C, eggs were counted and incubated. After for 24 hours of incubation at 26°C to 28°C, all hatchlings were counted and recorded. The results indicated that there were significant differences (P<0.05) among the dosages on egg and hatchlings quantity. Egg weight, egg number and percentage egg weight were significantly (P<0.05) higher in dosage three (4 mg/kg) compared to other treatments. Total hatchlings and percentage hatchlings produced from striped females were significantly (P<0.05) higher compared to other dosages. In conclusion, the experiment indicated that higher eggs and hatchlings quantity at a constant latency period are attained with 4 mg/kg of female. Therefore, it is recommended that for better induction of ovulation in African catfish, 4 mg/kg of female pituitary gland extract should be used as suggested by this study.