Eel-tailed Catfish Pituitary Gland: A Sustainable Alternative for Induced Spawning in African Catfish

The reliance on expensive synthetic hormones and the ethical concerns of sacrificing potential breeders for pituitary gland (PG) extraction in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) induced spawning necessitate exploring cost-effective and ethical alternatives. This study evaluated the efficacy of PG extracts from eel-tailed catfish (Tandanus tandanus) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) compared to African catfish PG. Twelve mature African catfish (approximately 500 g each) were divided into three treatment groups (n=4 per group), each receiving PG extracts standardized by donor fish weight. Spawning latency was recorded and analyzed using ANOVA and post-hoc tests. Results demonstrated that eel-tailed catfish PG (13.54 h) exhibited comparable spawning latency to African catfish PG (11.88 h), while Nile tilapia PG resulted in significantly longer latency (17.59 h). This suggests that eel-tailed catfish PG is a viable and cost-effective alternative to synthetic hormones and traditional PG extraction, offering a sustainable solution for African catfish hatcheries.