CONSERVATION OF AN ENDANGERED CARNIVOROUS FISH RITA RITA THROUGH INDUCED BREEDING

Abstract

In present study the Effects of different doses of ovaprim on induced spawning activities of Rita rita were observed with an aim to standardize the dose of ovaprim for successful breeding. In the trial experiment, the females of Rita rita were treated with ovaprim at the rate of 0.5, 0.8 and 1.0ml/kg body weight and males of Rita rita in all the cases were treated at the rate of 0.4ml/kg. The doses of ovaprim at the rates of 0.5, 0.8, 1.0 ml/kg body weight resulted in 0%, 100% and 100% ovulation respectively. In case of injection of ovaprim at the rate of 0.8ml/kg, the fertilization rate was observed to be about 70% and hatching rate was 58%, which occurred within 20-25 hours after fertilization at water temperature of 270C-290C. In case of injection of ovaprim at the rate of 1.0ml/kg, 18% fertilization rate and 5% hatching rate was observed. The doses of ovaprim at the rates of 0.8ml/kg and 0.4ml/kg body weight for female and male Rita rita respectively was found to be satisfactory for overall breeding performance and the commercially successful production of this fish. Hatchlings from over all experiment were reared up to fingerlings size to about 2 month and were finally stocked into the Chashma lake.