Comparison of Fertiliztion, Hatchability, Growth and Survival of Clarias Gariepinus from Adamawa and Katsina States

Studies of intra – specific hybridization between Clarias gariepinus from two ecological zones namely Adamawa and Katsina states in North west and North eastern Nigeria, was carried out at fisheries departmental farm of Modibbo Adama University Yola for the period of 3 weeks, to determine the percentage fertilization, hatchability, survival rate and growth performance of hatchlings from the different crosses. Four intra – specific progenies were obtained from the crosses of the two strains of C. gariepinus. Hatchlings were fed with Artemia free cyst and Coppens for the 3 weeks. The results showed that purebred from Katsina had better fecundity (240,800 eggs) than Yola (125,625 eggs). There was a significant difference (p 0.05) in the weight of right and left lobes of testes (4.5g and 2.7g) and in the length of the right and left lobes of the broodstock from the different strains. KT x KT had the highest percentage fertility (97.7%) followed by YY x YY (97.2%), ♀YY X ♂KT (96%) and the least in ♀KT x ♂YY (93.6%). KT x KT had the highest percentage hatchability (97.3%) followed by ♀YY x ♂KT (96%), ♀KT x ♀YY (95%) and the least was YY x YY (87%). There was a significant difference (p 0.05%) in the fertility and hatchability between purebreds and hybrids. At the end of 3 weeks survival rate was higher in YY x YY (95%) followed by KT x KT (90%), ♀YY x ♂KT (80%) and ♀KT x ♂YY (75%). Keywords: Strain, Fertilization, Hatchability and survival, Clarias gariepinu