Growth performance of Clariid catfish seeds using pituitary and ovatide

Abstract

The effects of natural (Pituitary) and synthetic (Ovatide) hormones on the growth performance of clariid catfish seeds were investigated. The clariid catfishes included Clarias gariepinus, Heterobranchus bidorsalis and their hybrid. Three concrete tanks measuring 4 x 5m were used for the study. Each tank was partioned into 1 x 1.25m using netting materials of 2mm size (Happas). The fish culture was set up as semi-intensive system. Fish seed of clariid catfishes was produced using Ovatide and Pituitary extract at the University of Benin fish hatchery. Fingerlings of average size of 2g were selected from seeds produced from each hormonal type and from each fish species and stocked at a stocking rate of 10fish/m² .The experiment was designed as two (hormonal type) X three (fish species) factorial in complete randomised design replicated twice. The fishes were fed with commercial diet containing 40% crude protein . Such data as weight gain, absolute growth rate, relative growth rate, feed conversion ratio and survival were collected and subjected to analyses of variance.The result showed significant (P<0.05) difference in the growth performance of fish species produced with Ovatide and Pituitary extract. Heteroclarias produced with Pituitary extract had fish survival, mean bi weekly weight gain and absolute growth rate of 100%, 45.75g, and 35.63g/day respectively. These were significantly higher (p<0.05) than the one produced from ovatide with values of 44.59g and 34.6g/day for mean bi-weekly weight gain and absolute weight gain. The trend was the same for C. gariepinus and H. bidorsalis. Therefore the use of Pituitary extract proved better than the ovatide in terms of survival, and growth of hatchlings.