The Synergistic Effect of Combining Pituitary Gland and Ovaprim Hormone on Latency, Fertility, Hatchability, and Survival of African Clariid Catfish -Clarias Gariepinus

The hatchability of Clarias gariepinus using pituitary extract and Ovaprim hormones was carried out at the Hatchery unit of the Fisheries Department, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria. One male to two females were used across all batch treatments (T1-T3). Batch T1 was administered 100% Ovaprim, T2 received 100% Carp Pituitary Extract-CPE, T3 a combination 50% ovaprim and 50% CPE. T4 was without any hormonal treatment. The latency periods were 12h, 16h, 10h and 0h at 27.8oC, 26.9oC, 27.5oC and 26.6°C, respectively, for T1, T2, T3 and T4. T3 had the highest fertilization (78%) and hatchability (85%) rates, followed by T1 (72%, 66%), T2 (61%, 56%) and lastly T4 (26%, 28%). The hatching duration was 18h, 20h, 20h, and 23h with T3, T1, T2 and T4, respectively. Survival rates were in the order: T3 (87.77%), T1 (84.44%), T4 (81.11%) and T2 (76.66%). T3 had higher mean weight gain (0.39g) and specific growth rate (10.07%) compared to T2 (0.39g, 9.63%), T4 (0.33g, 9.54%) and T1 (0.32g, 9.44%). Economically, Ovaprim (T1) cost (₦700 or 1.71USD) while CPE (T2) cost ₦1382.4 (3.37USD). The combination (T3) had the best fertility, hatchability, survival rates, and best growth performance of African Clariid Catfish Clarias gariepinus fingerling production and is hereby recommended to fish breeders. Keywords: catfish, breeding, synthetic, pituitary, combined hormone, No hormone