Induced spawning of the African snakehead fish.

African Regional Aquaculture Centre,P.M.B.5122, Port Harcourt, Nigeria Department of Animal and Environmental Biology,University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
Parachanna obscura is a highly prized fresh water fish in high demand in Nigeria. Currently its culture is not popular due to lack of steady seed supply among other constraints. Adult breeders were induced to spawn in captivity by intramuscular injections of ovaprim. Spawning was semi-natural. A dose of 0.7 mg/kg of ovaprim administered to both male and female fish was the most effective dose. Spawning was noticed after 36 hrs and the fertilized eggs were free floating, non-adhesive, translucent and yellow in colour. Eggs hatched 72 hrs after fertilization. The amber coloured hatchlings were 0.3-0.5 cm in length with a distinct yolk sac. Yolk sac absorption was complete after four days. These baseline results indicate that controlled propagation of this highly desirable aquaculture candidate is achievable.

Agokei Obioma E, Hart Adabuobo.I

RESULTS
Spawning was noticed 36 hours after the injections were administered in two of the 0.7 ml/kg treatment tanks.(Fig8) The fertilized eggs were free floating spherical, non- adhesive translucent and bright yellow in colour. They covered 70% of the water surface.(Fig 9 and 10) The eggs hatched 72 hrs after fertilization. The hatchlings were 0.3 - 0.5 cm in length, transparent; faintly brown in colour with a distinct yolk sac. They swam about in schools.(Fig 11) Yolk sac absorption was complete four days after hatching .The fry measured 0.6 - 0.8 cm, they were yellowish with black horizontal stripes running on both sides and tapering to the tail. They now moved about the water column in short bursts of speed.(Fig 12 and 13)

INTRODUCTION
The African snakehead fish (Fig.1) is of economic importance as food fish in freshwater capture fisheries and has great potential for aquaculture in Nigeria.(Fagbenro et al,2005, Victor and Akpocha,1992.) It is cherished by consumers and its demand is on the increase However its culture in Nigeria is still not common due to a lack of seed supply among other factors. Farmers still rely on seed supply from the wild. The reproductive biology of this species has been investigated by some authors(Victor and Akpocha,1992 , Ekpo ,1983) No report on its induced breeding in captivity is available. Extensive literature exists on the reproductive biology and induced breeding of the Asian snakeheads (Wee,1992 Haniffa et al 2000,Marimuthu et al 2001, Parameswaran and Murugesan 1974.) The objective of this study was to investigate the possibility of using artificial hormones to induce spawning in captivity and to determine the most effective dose of hormone. Thus making steady seed supply a possibility.

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DISSCUSSION.
A dose of 0.7 ml/kg of ovaprim induced natural spawning in this species. This is higher than a dose of 0.5 ml/kg and 0.4 ml/kg used in Asian snakeheads as reported by Parameswaran and Murugesan(1976),Marimuthu et al (2000) and Haniffa et al(2002). A latency period of 36 hrs and hatching time of 72 hrs recorded in this study were also higher than those reported by Marimuthu et al(2001) and Haniffa et al (2000) for the Asian snakeheads This difference in response to the hormone may be due to geographical and inter- specific differences The observation of peak breeding season occurring between July-August is similar to that reported by Victor and Akpocha (1992). A further study using other synthetic hormones and comparing hatching and fertilization rates as well as larvicultural requirements of this species is recommended.

Fig 1: Breeders of The African snakehead fish,Parachanna obscura.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A mixed population of 47 wild breeders were stocked for three months in an earthen pond which had been pre-stocked with tilapia as forage fish.(Fig 2) Monthly sampling of fish to determine presence of viable gametes was done by sacrificing, dissecting and viewing the gonads of a subsample of fish microscopically(.Figs 3,4,and 5.) At peak season, 27 breeders (0.5 - 1.3 kg) were selected and arranged in breeding sets of two females per male.(Fig 6) Intramuscular injections of three doses of ovaprim(0.3 ml/kg,0.5 ml/kg and 0.7 ml/kg) were used for the trials. For each dose there were three replicates. Injections were given to both male and female fish in one single dose each and at the same time after which the breeders were put into concrete spawning tanks containing water(pH 6.89-7.10,temp,26.3-28. DO 6.1-6.8) Parents were removed as soon as the presence of fertilized eggs was noticed

CONCLUSION
African snakeheads can be induced to spawn using artificial hormones. This makes controlled propagation of this important, much cherished and desirable species possible. Culture of this species will broaden consumer choice in Nigeria which is currently restricted to a few species.

REFERENCES
Fagbenro,O.A,Adebayo,O.T,Osho,B.,Ajayi,C.B.,Raji,A.A. 2005.Haematological profile of
Parachanna(Channa) obscura,Gunther 1861,Malapterurus electricus GMELIN 1789 and Malapterurus miniriya SAGUA 1987.Animal Research International,2(2):297-300. Ekpo,A.O.,1993.Growth,feeding and reproductive biology of Hydrocynus forskalii,Alestes macroledidotus and Channa obscura in Asejire Resevoir,Nigeria.PhD Thesis, University of Ibadan. Haniffa,M.A.,Merlin,T.,Shaik Mohamed,J. 2000.Induced Spawning of the stripped murrel using pituitary extracts,human chorionic gonadotropin,lutenizing hormone releasing hormone analogue and ovaprim.Acta.Ict.Piscat. 30(1):53-60. Marimuthu,K.,Haniffa,M.A.,Muruganandam,M.,Arockia Raj,A.J.2001.Naga, The ICLARM,Quaterly,24(1):21-22. Parameswaran,S.,Murugesan,V.K. 1976.Observations on the hypophysation of murrels (Ophicephalidae).Hydrobiologia.50(1):81-87 Victor,R.,Akpocha,B.O. 1992.The biology of snakehead,Channa obscura (Gunther) in a Nigerian pond under monoculture.Aquaculture,101:17-24. Wee,K.L.,1982.Chapter 3.The biology and culture of snakeheads.In:J.F.Muir and R.J.Roberts(Eds),Recent Advances in Aquaculture.Westview Press Boulder CO.pp 180-211.

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CONTACT.
Obioma Agokei, African Regional Aquaculture Centre, P.M.B 5122 Aluu,Port- Harcourt,Nigeria E-mail,lizagokei@yahoo.com.

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