Intra-specific hybridization and larval performance of two strains of wild African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) (Siluriformes: Clariidae) from Cameroon
Authors:   Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) - Limbe, P.O Box 77, Cameroon., Nkongho Geneva Ojong , Oben Benedicta Oshuware ,   Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, P.O Box 63, Buea, Cameroon., Makombu Judith Georgette ,   Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, P.O Box 63, Buea, Cameroon., Joseph Ebobenow ,   Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea. Cameroon., Arrey Mbeng Ashu ,   Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, P.O Box 63, Buea, Cameroon., Narika Ambeno Fidelis ,   Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, P.O Box 63, Buea, Cameroon., Obie Atkin Egbe ,   Epsilon Environnement, Kribi, P. O Box 254, Cameroon., Tabe-Agbor Ebot Clarkson ,   Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, P.O Box 63, Buea, Cameroon., Ashu Ashu Clovis ,   Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, P.O Box 63, Buea, Cameroon., Burinyuy Verkijika Mercy ,   Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, P.O Box 63, Buea, Cameroon., Yekaws Sunday Rosine ,   Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, P.O Box 63, Buea, Cameroon., Oben Pius Mbu ,   Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, P.O Box 63, Buea, Cameroon.
Published: December 2022

In Cameroon, wild strains of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) are often used for artificial reproduction in hatchery facilities, but there is insufficient information on their reproductive capacity and progeny performance. The reproductive capacity of two strains of C. gariepinus from the Mezam and Mungo Rivers and the performance of their F1 larvae obtained following hybridization were assessed. Reproduction was carried out with four crosses as follows: Mezam (♂) x Mezam (♀) (T1), Mezam (♂) x Mungo (♀) (T2), Mungo (♂) x Mezam (♀) (T3) and Mungo (♂) x Mungo (♀) (T4). Thereafter, three days old larvae obtained following reproduction were subjected to a 30 day experimental trial with standard feeds. The performance of larvae obtained from T4 was not assessed since larvae obtained were too few for the experiment. Although the broodstock of the different strains did not differ significantly in size, Mezam stock had significantly (p = 0.00) bigger eggs when compared to Mungo stock. Fecundity of 52480 was recorded for Mezam stock compared to 32985 for Mungo stock. Fertilization and hatchability rates differed significantly (p < 0.05) among the crosses, with the highest (82.28 and 81.31%, respectively) in T1, followed by T3 (65.96 and 61.28%, respectively), and the least (38.61 and 2.81%, respectively) in T4. The best larval survival was recorded in T1 (37.17%) and the least in T2 (15.67%), meanwhile T3 recorded best growth after 30 days. In terms of fertilization and hatchability, T1 was more suitable for artificial reproduction, but T3 is more encouraged for aquaculture based on its reproductive capacity and larval performance.