Experimental Hybridization between Catfish Clarias batrachus (Linn.) x Clarias gariepinus (Bur.) and Performance of the Offspring in Rearing Operations

Abstract

Four combinations of crossbreeding were conducted to study the effect of hybridization between Clarias batrachus Clarias gariepinus on the performance of F 1 progeny. For the purpose, fishes were induced bred to get pure as well as crossbred offspring of catfish, C. batrachus and C. gariepinus. No significant difference was observed in the rate of fertilization among the breeding combinations. However, a significant reduction (P<0.05) in per cent hatching was noticed due to crossbreeding between C. batrachus (+)* C. gariepinus (-)*. A substantial number (30%) of hybrid offspring produced from C. gariepinus eggs were deformed and all the deformed larvae died during indoor rearing. The crossbred larvae were of greater body length in comparison to the pure bred offspring. It was also observed that the larvae of C. batrachus and hybrids produced from its eggs were significantly higher in initial average body weight than either the C. gariepinus or the hybrids produced by using C. gariepinus eggs.