Growth Performance and Survival of the Progenies of Clarias gariepinus Broodstock from the Three Different Ecological Zones

Fish hybridization is considered as one of the major breeding strategies that have been used to improve and reproductive and growth performance. The demand for high-quality fish seed in Nigeria is very high, which is affecting the production of fish through aquaculture. This study evaluated the growth performance and survival of the progenies of C. gariepinus broodstock from the three different ecological zones: Gombe (GM), Jos (JJ), and Yola (YY). Hatchlings were maintained indoor in culture tanks, and were fed three (3) times daily ad libitum for a period of 56 days (8 weeks), waste and uneaten feed were removed via siphoning every day. The hatchlings were randomly collecting from each experimental unit, the length in centimeters and weight in gram were measured and the average were recorded. Growth performance showed that the pure strain ♂GM×♀GM had the highest final weight, weight gain, daily weight gain, and specific growth rate, (9.46±2.77, 8.93±2.92, 0.16±0.04 and 8.52±0.32) while the hybrid ♂JJ×♀YY recorded the highest length gain. The highest survival rate was observed in ♂GM×♀YY (55%) and least (21.6%) in ♂GM×♀GM crosses respectively. Physicochemical parameters remained within acceptable ranges for catfish culture. The study concludes that GM strains have better Growth performance. Ecological origin also influences Growth performance and survival of fish, and strategic intraspecific hybridization can improve seed viability in C. gariepinus.