Preliminary reports on selective breeding of the African catfish (<i>Clarias gariepinus</i> Burchell, 1822) under semi-arid condition of Nigeria

Abstract

Selective breeding response and growth of Clarias gariepinus were investigated. A total of 24 paired gravid C. gariepinus collected from River Benue, Numan and Gubi Dam, Bauchi crossed as following: C. gariepinus River Benue x C. gariepinus River Benue (RBxRB), C. gariepinus River Benue x C. gariepinus Gubi Dam Bauchi (RBxGD), C. gariepinus Gubi Dam x C. gariepinus Gubi Dam (GDxGD), and C. gariepinus Gubi Dam x C. gariepinus River Benue (GDxRB) in a completely randomized design. Females are mentioned first. Seven days old fry were reared for 6 weeks in 30 litres capacity plastic trough according to the crosses. Six weeks old fish were further reared at 10fish/m² for 90 days in net 2m² hapa installed in 7 x 5x1.2m polyethylene-line pond. The result shows that fertilization rates were higher in GDxGD, while hatching rates were better in GDxRB F₁ hybrids. Fry final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, survival and heterosis for survival were higher in RB×GD progenies in F₁ progenies. The final weight, weight gain, and heterosis for growth were better in GDxRB hybrids. The GDxRB proved to have better growth and survival. This study revealed the potentials for selective breeding of Clarias gariepinus in North-East Nigeria.