Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Agriculture, P.M.B 2373 Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
Ataguba, G.A., Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Agriculture, P.M.B 2373 Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria; Annune, P.A., Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Agriculture, P.M.B 2373 Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria; Ogbe, F.G., Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Agriculture, P.M.B 2373 Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
Hybridization of Clarias gariepinus (Cl) and Heterobranchus longifilis (Ht) and determination of their growth parameters and heterosis was carried out. Four crosses were tried (♀ × ♂): Cl X Cl, Ht X Cl, Cl X Ht and Ht X Ht. One hundred and fifty 15 day old juveniles from each of the four crosses were stocked separately in triplicate plastic aquaria. Forty fish were selected randomly every week using a fine mesh mosquito size net and then weighed in bulk on a sensitive balance. The cross Cl X Cl had the highest final mean weight (1709mg) compared to the other three crosses. The pure breeds had similar Specific Growth Rate (SGR), 8.81%.day -1 (Cl X Cl) and 8.82%.day -1 (Ht X Ht). A negative heterosis for growth (-41.95%) was observed in the hybrids while survival of the hybrids showed a positive heterosis (29.4%). Poor growth of hybrids accounted for the negative heterosis. Hence crossbreeds survived better than the pure breed catfishes. There was no significant difference in specific growth rate among the four genetic groups studied (P>0.05).
