EFFECT OF A BIODEGRADABLE SUBSTRATE SUGARCANE BAGASSE ON EGG AND SPERM QUALITY OF THE CATFISH, CLARIAS BATRACHUS (LINN.)

Abstract

The present investigation has been conducted to evaluate the egg and sperm quality of the catfish, Clarias batrachus (Linn.) cultured in sugarcane bagasse substrate medium. Adult Clarias batrachus (av. wt. 196 g for males and 215 g for females) were reared at 20 per tank. No feed was provided to the fish in 3 of the substrate-added tanks (T1), while a pelleted diet was fed to the fish in the remaining 3 substrate-added tanks (T2) and the other 3 tanks without substrate (T3). Five pairs of matured male and female Clarias batrachus were bred by hypophysation using OVAPRIM. Spawning substrates made from cut nylon mosquito nets were spread inside the tank to a depth of 10cm for the purpose of incubation. Fertilized eggs obtained by mixing stripped eggs and spermatozoa from Ovaprim-induced brood fish were immediately spread thinly on the substrate for between 24-36 hours for incubation and hatching. The brood fish fed the fishmeal-based diet and diet with sugarcane bagasse substrate had significantly higher (p<0.05) oocyte diameter, milt density, milt volume, sperm motility, higher percentage of egg fertilization, hatching and crude protein and lipid contents.
These results showed that sugarcane bagasse can effectively be use as a substrate for the culture of the catfish Clarias batrachus.