This article was downloaded by: [Department Of Fisheries] On: 15 June 2014, At: 20:12 Publisher: Taylor & Francis Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK North American Journal of Aquaculture Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/unaj20 Development of Captive Breeding and Seed Production Techniques for Giant River Catfish Sperata seenghala M. Aminur Rahmana, A. Arshadb, Fatimah Md. Yusoffb, S. M. N. Aminc, K. Marimuthud & R. Arae a Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia b Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Bioscience and Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia c Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia d Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, AIMST University, Kedah Darul Aman, Malaysia e Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia Published online: 15 Apr 2014. To cite this article: M. Aminur Rahman, A. Arshad, Fatimah Md. Yusoff, S. M. N. Amin, K. Marimuthu & R. Ara (2014) Development of Captive Breeding and Seed Production Techniques for Giant River Catfish Sperata seenghala, North American Journal of Aquaculture, 76:2, 97-103, DOI: 10.1080/15222055.2013.855282 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15222055.2013.855282 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http:// www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions North American Journal of Aquaculture 76:97–103, 2014 C American Fisheries Society 2014 ISSN: 1522-2055 print / 1548-8454 online DOI: 10.1080/15222055.2013.855282 ARTICLE Development of Captive Breeding and Seed Production Techniques for Giant River Catfish Sperata seenghala M. Aminur Rahman* Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia A. Arshad and Fatimah Md. Yusoff Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Bioscience and Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia S. M. N. Amin Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia K. Marimuthu Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, AIMST University, Kedah Darul Aman, Malaysia R. Ara Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia Abstract The Giant River Catfish Sperata seenghala, locally known as “Guizza Air” (and hereafter referred to as just Guizza), has significant aquacultural and conservational values, but closer monitoring of the fish is now badly needed. To protect the species from extinction, an experiment was undertaken to breed and produce seed of Guizza in a captive-rearing system. In our study, Guizza were successfully bred and the naturally produced fry were reared at different stocking densities in nine earthen nursery ponds having an area of 0.012 ha each with an average depth of Downloaded by [Department Of Fisheries] at 20:12 15 June 2014 0.8 m. Three stocking densities were evaluated in three replicates each. Fry produced from natural propagation that were stocked at 100,000/ha were defined as treatment 1 (T1), those stocked at 150,000/ha as treatment 2 (T2), and those stocked at 200,000/ha as treatment 3 (T3). At stocking, all reared fry were of the same age-group with a mean ± SD length and weight of 1.74 ± 0.27 cm and 0.20 ± 0.03 g, respectively. Fry in all the experimental ponds were reared with commercial Saudi Bangla (SABINCO) nursery feed (32.06% crude protein) for the first 14 d and starter-I (31.53% crude protein) for days 15–56. Growth (final weight, final length, weight gain, length gain, and specific growth rate) and survival of the fingerlings were significantly higher in T1 than in T2 and T3. Feed conversion rate was significantly lower in T1 than in T2 and T3. Moreover, the physicochemical measurements and plankton population of the pond water were within the optimal level for fish culture, with plankton abundance being higher in T1 than in T2 and T3. Consistently higher net benefits were obtained from T1 than from T2 and T3. Hence, of the three stocking densities, 100,000 fry/ha was the most suitable density for rearing Guizza fingerlings in nursery ponds. *Corresponding author: [email protected] Received April 17, 2013; accepted October 7, 2013 97 98 RAHMAN ET AL. The Giant River Catfish Sperata seenghala, locally referred of the greater Mymensingh region during January–February, to as “Guizza Air” (and hereafter referred to as just Guizza), is 2009. The collected brood fish were transported to the Fresh- an important bagrid catfish and was once available in rivers, water Station at the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, floodplains, inundated fields, swamps, ditches, canals, and Mymensingh, and then reared in earthen ponds. Fish were other freshwater areas throughout Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, fed twice daily with supplemental feed (34.27% crude pro- Nepal, Malaysia, and Bangladesh (Jayaram 1977, 2002; tein, 11.55% crude lipid, 10.86% crude fiber, 15.48% ash, and Jhingran 1991; Talwar and Jhingran 1991; Muchlisin et al. 2004; 27.84% nitrogen-free extract on dry matter basis) composed of Rahman 2005). It is a popular species of catfish and a favorite rice bran (30%), mustard oilcake (29%), fish meal (40%), and of consumers due to its delicious taste and therefore is in great vitamin-premix (1%) at the rate of 5–6% of the estimated fish demand, fetching higher prices in the market than major Indian biomass. The pond was fertilized at biweekly intervals with carps (Catla Catla catla [also known as Gibelion catla], Rohu cow dung (1,000 kg/ha) and urea and triple super phosphate Labeo rohita, and Mrigal Cirrhinus mrigala; Tripathi 1996). (50 kg/ha), following Rahman et al. (2005b). The fish is carnivorous in nature and consumes a variety Natural propagation in artificial nests.—For stimulating the of living creatures including fish, frogs, snakes, insects, earth- natural propagation of Guizza, artificial nests (holes) were con- worms, tadpoles, crustaceans, and debris (Rahman 2005). It structed on the pond bottom. Each nest was 0.7 m in diameter fights well and provides good sport fishing. In its natural habitat and 0.3 m in depth. A total of 30 nests were made in two ponds it spawns twice a year from May to July and from September having an area of 0.04 ha each with 15 nests per pond. Three to November (Talwar and Jhingran 1991; Rahman et al. 2005b, months before the onset of the breeding season, 30 pairs (30 2011). Absolute fecundity of this fish varies from 13,005 to males and 30 females) of Guizza breeders (650–1200 g) were 119,943 eggs, with an estimated egg diameter of 0.80–1.40 mm; stocked in the ponds and fed with supplemental feed as above. the size range of spawners is 32.50–48.70 cm in length (M. A. Fresh groundwater was supplied everyday to maintain a natu- Rahman, unpublished). There are several reasons for the lack of ral condition (e.g., temperature adjustment, water circulation, aquaculture of the tropical bagrid catfishes: these fishes are diffi- mate selection, sex stimulation, and courtship induction) for cult to spawn artificially, are sensitive to water quality changes, breeding. During mid-May to early June 2009, a total of 18,287 and are easily stressed (Rahman et al. 2005b, 2011). Hatcheries Guizza fry (762 ± 192 fry/nest [mean ± SD] with lengths of have difficulties in synchronizing the maturity between male and 1.74 ± 0.27 cm and weights of 0.20 ± 0.03 g) were collected female broodstock, which makes it hard to artificially produce from 24 holes by completely draining the pond and were then seeds for stocking in grow-out ponds (Muchlisin et al. 2004; transferred to earthen nursery ponds for 8 weeks. Rahman et al. 2005b). Rearing of fry and fingerlings in nursery ponds.—The Although the Giant River Catfish is categorized as “Least collected Guizza fry were reared at the Freshwater Station, Concern” for now because current field surveys indicate that it Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Mymensingh, for 8 is still relatively abundant, closer monitoring of its fisheries is weeks from 8 June to 3 August in nine earthen nursery ponds badly needed (IUCN 2013). However, in Bangladesh the natural with a surface area of 0.012 ha and an average depth of 0.8 m. habitats and breeding grounds of this bagrid catfish have been All the ponds had similar rectangular size, depth, basin confor- severely degraded in recent years due to poor management, in- mation, contour, and bottom type.