RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BROODSTOCK WEIGHT COMBINATION AND SPAWNING SUCCESS IN AFRICAN CATFISH (Clarias gariepinus)

摘要

Pearson's correlation and regression analysis were used in this study to test the relationship between broodstock weight combination and broodstock characteristics for African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) such as fecundity, weight of egg, weight of testis and their relationship with breeding parameters such as fertilization and hatchability. The result obtained reveals that broodstock size correlated positively with fecundity, weight of egg and weight of testis. Though the same strong relationship was observed for fertilization and hatchability, low r2 values were obtained in regression analysis between these parameters, suggesting an insignificant regression. Fecundity also correlated positively with fertilization (0.764) and hatchability (0.494). The regression between fecundity and weight of female was significant (r2 = 0.9558). Multiple regression showed significant regressions between % Fertilization and Fecundity, Egg Weight and Weight of Testis as a whole, between % Fertilization and Weight of Male and Weight of Female and between % Hatchability and Fecundity, Egg Weight, Weight of Testis and % Fertilization. The present study therefore advanced the thought that larger African catfish broodstocks are better for breeding activities.