Abstract:
The dietary effects of Prunus amygdalus dulcis seed powder were investigated on the reproductive indices in male African Catfish, Clarias gariepinus. A total of 45 C. gariepinus with mean body weight, 491±7.04 were randomly distributed in triplicate into 15 concrete tanks (2×2×1.5m) at stocking density of 3 fish per tank and constant water level of 1m was maintained in the experimental tanks. Five iso-proteic diets of 40% were formulated with different inclusion levels of P. amygdalus dulcis seed powder. D1 (control) has 0 g/kg of the powder, while D2, D3, D4 and D5 has 5, 10, 15 and 20g/kg of the P. amygdalus dulcis seed powder respectively. The fish were fed at 3% of body weight twice a day between 08.00-09.00 and 16.00-17.00 hours for a period of 70 days. At the end of the 70-day experiment, reproductive indices such as milt volume, motility duration, spermatozoa count, gonadosomatic index, percentage motility, percentage fertilization, percentage hatchability and percentage survival of hatchling were determined. The qualities of the milt were assessed using microscope and by fertility tests. Histological examination of the testes of fish fed each of the diets was also carried out. Fish fed experimental diets showed significantly improved reproductive indices over the control treatment. The highest spermatozoa concentration (2.10±0.14×109spm/ml) was observed in fish fed diet D5. The gonadosomatic index was lowest in fish fed the control diet D1 (0.34±0.13%) and highest in fish fed diet D4 (1.15±0.21%). Highest percentage fertilization, hatchability and survival of hatchling were recorded in fish fed diet D5. The results indicated that the addition of P. amygdalus dulcis seed powder improved reproductive indices of male C. gariepinus broodstocks which can be exploited in fish seeds production.
