Breeding performance of the walking cat fish Clarias batrachus (Linnaeus, 1758) using synthetic inducing agent, Alpa-FH with special reference to the occurrence of morphological deformities in their early stage of life

In the present investigation induced breeding of walking cat fish, Clarias batrachus with synthetic hormone Alpa-FH was made. An optimum result was found in induced spawning by using hormone at the dose of 0.8 ml kg-1 body weight to female followed by stripping method with higher rate of fertilization (80.4%) and hatching (84.1%). Further, frequency of some common morphological deformities (1.27-3.83%) was also recorded in the induced bred C. batrachus hatchlings in the present study with a highest percentage at the dose of 1.2 ml kg-1 body weight to female. Results of the present investigation would help mass scale quality seed production of C. batrachus under captive condition to augment market demand of the seed.