Evaluation of HCG-Delivery Systems and Levels on Spawning of Asian Catfish, Clarias batrachus (Linn.)

ABSTRACT An attempt has been made for multiple spawning of Asian catfish, Clarias batrachus, by sustained hormone administrations through injection and pellet at three different levels of human chorionic gonado-tropin (HCG): 150, 200, and 250 IU. The size of the eggs and biometry of larvae were significantly higher (P< 0.05) in hormone-treated females compared with untreated groups during first as well as second spawning. The administration of all three levels of sustained hormone was also influenced the rate of fertilization and hatching, which were significantly higher (P< 0.05) compared with control group. The total larvae produced by the fish at 200 and 250 IU HCG treatments during both the spawning operations was significantly higher (P< 0.05) than the other groups irrespective of the ways of administration. It was observed that the forms of sustained hormone had no variability on breeding parameters. But the fish can be bred prior to normal season by the use of sustained hormone and those can be aga...