Morphometric traits, spermatozoa microscopy and stripped eggs fertilization with milt collected from live African Mudfish (Clarias gariepinus)

The African Mudfish (C. gariepinus) has been reared in Africa for many decades yet with poor performance record, attributable to unreliable practical farming conditions with particular emphasis on artificial reproduction strategies. This has resulted in killing the male as the last resort for sustainable expansion in aquacultural productivity. Undoubtedly, this will lead to time, economic and genetic resource wastages. Hence, the need for alternative technique aimed at using syringe to collect milt from live African Mudfish. To achieve this, 120 males and 6 females were used in three separate investigations and information were gathered on morphometric parameters of the fish, microscopic observation of milt and fertilization of stripped eggs. The results showed that the papilla length varied between 1.31±0.15 and 1.55±0.06cm, pectoral fin length (6.26±0.24 and 7.07±0.86cm), testicular depth (2.60±0.17 and 3.04±0.35cm) and the testicular length ranged from 4.03±1.05 to 5.08±1.01cm. Also, matured and motile spermatozoa were microscopically observed in the milt collected from 3 (representing 10.0%) of the fish investigated. More significantly, fertilization (13.3%) of the stripped eggs with the milt collected occurred across the treatment groups, irrespective of the syringe insertion point and the testes (left or right). Based on these findings, it may be possible to collect milt with syringe for breeding in African Mudfish which will certainly end the killing of male fish. Nevertheless, the fish restriction technique, syringe insertion angle, possibility of spermatozoa deformation, short needle with small hollow centre and slanted end could be what led to the little or no milt harvested cases recorded. These without doubt posed some confines to the present search for alternative artificial reproduction technique. Hence, more detailed studies would be needed to elucidate the adoption or otherwise of this propounded novel artificial reproduction strategy in African Mudfish