This study was designed to evaluate the culture potential of the offspring from the novel crosses between Asian catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus (Sauvage, 1878) and African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822). ?C. gariepinus × ?P. hypophthalmus (Clariothalmus) gave better hatchability than ?P. hypophthalmus × ?C. gariepinus (Pangapinus), however, both were lower than the pure crosses.
Based on the phenotypic characters, a larger proportion of the offspring of Clariothalmus was Panga-like, while only 12% were Clarias-like. However, all offspring of Pangapinus were all Panga-like. The Panga-like Clariothalmus exhibited shared features from both parents hence much more phenotypic divergence from both parents. The remain 12% of the Clariothalmus offspring (Clarias-like) and all the Pangapinus progenies (Panga-like) on the other hand were indistinguishable from the maternal parent.
After sixteen weeks of culture, the Clarias-like Clariothalmus offspring had better growth than the other crosses including the pure sibs. However, cannibalism and aggressive behaviour were higher in this group of fish compared to others. Hence, culturing Panga-like Clariothalmus separately from the Clarias-like progenies may be a management practice of interest in the commercial production of the hybrids.