BREEDING AND EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT OF F₁ HYBRIDS, Clarias gariepinus (♀)(BUCHELL, 1822) AND Pangasionodon hypopthalmus (♂)(SAUVAGE, 1878)  

The present study conducted to breed and observe the embryonic development of F₁ hybrids, Clarias gariepinus (♀) and Pangasionodon hypopthalmus (♂) from fertilization until early hatched. The matured eggs and sperm were obtained by induced breeding using a commercial hormone, ovaprim. Dosages given for female and male were 0.5 ml and 0.25 ml ovaprim kg^-1, respectively. Fertilized eggs were adhesive, spherical, sticky and brownish green colour. Fecundity for female weighing 40 g and 60 g were 37,333 and 40,664 eggs/fish. Fertilization of eggs occurred 12 minutes after stripped the eggs and mixed with the sperm. Fertilization rates were 90% and 85% whereas hatching rates were 50% and 35%. The temperature during incubation was maintained to 27.7°C. The embryonic development ended when the eggs hatched after 16 hours and 15 minutes incubation (Figure 1).