Effects of Melatonin on Clarias Macrocephalus Female Broodstock Performance

This study examines the effects of exogenous melatonin treatment to the first sexual maturity stage in female broodstock of the Clarias macrocephalus. The gradual melatonin levels of Control (0 mg/kg melatonin), Mt0.05 (50 mg/kg melatonin) and Mt0.25 (250 mg/kg melatonin) in the diet mixed in isonitrogenous and isocaloric of 37% crude protein and 9.3% crude lipid was applied to the first sexual maturation female catfish. Estradiol analysis, maturation analysis, breeding performance and the larval quality were evaluated. The exogenous melatonin treatment increased the fecundity, gonadosomatic index and egg diameter (p <0.05) after eight weeks of treatment. During artificial spawning, the melatonin enhanced the egg production and the larval survival rate (p <0.05). The current results supported the concept of exogenous melatonin treatment may enhance the first sexual stage of maturation in the C. macrocephalus