Induced breeding of the South American catfish, Rhamdia sapo (C. & V.)

Abstract

Pituitary suspensions from the characin, Prochilodus platensis, were injected intraperitoneally into male and female Rhamdia sapo at doses between 0.37 and 6 mg dry weight per kg of body weight. Doses from 0.75 to 6.0 mg/kg effectively induced ovulation. The latent period between injection and ovulation for females held at different temperatures (17 to 27°C) decreased with increasing temperature. Stripping of gametes from both sexes, and dry method fertilization were successful and produced viable eggs. The period between ovulation and stripping for the highest hatching rates decreased from about 9 h at 20°C, to 5 h at 24°C. No viable eggs remained in samples obtained after 15 h at 20°C, or 8 h at 24°C. Hatching percentage and the fraction of deformed fry were negatively correlated ( r = −0.75; P < 0.001).