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Artificial reproduction and reproductive parameters of silver catfish Schilbe intermedius (Siluriformes: Schilbeidae) – implications for the conservation and domestication of this threatened species

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Abstract

The silver catfish Schilbe intermedius (Rüppell, 1832) is single-spawning species spread in Africa and may reach 50 cm in length. Since there are no studies on the artificial reproduction of S. intermedius, the aim of the present study was to induce for the first time spawning by hormonal injection and to determine the reproductive parameters for this species. Artificial induction was carried out by the injection of Ovaprim (0.5 ml kg− 1) to males and females. Different eggs measurements were carried out by micrometer. Egg stripping was carried out ten hours after hormone injection at 27.17 ± 0.22 °C (mean ± standard deviation) with mean spawning rate 58.15 ± 2.88 %. Relative fecundity was 613.25 ± 71.83 oocytes/g with mean diameters 0.94 ± 0.10 mm and 1.11 ± 0.06 mm, respectively, before and after eggs fertilization. Fecundity and hatching rates ranged, respectively, from 60.30 to 68.02 % and 56.11–60.96 %. Egg hatching occurred about 22 or 28 h after fertilization at 26.02 °C, and the larvae average length was 1.24 ± 0.14 mm. Yolk sac resorption occurred 48 h after hatching and larvae acquired their morphological structures in about 72 h after hatching. This information will be important in improving the artificial reproduction protocols of S. intermedius in controlled breeding programs.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the local fishermen, especially Mr. Fidèl HOUNSOU, who helped to collect the broodstock, the responsible of the Research Laboratory on Wetlands (LRZH) for providing the facilities used for this study, and Dr. Clément ADJAHOUINOU, Mr. Wilfred SINTONDJI, Mr. Boris, Mr. Tobias AZON for their technical assistance. The study was supported by grants from West Africa Agricultural Productivity Program (WAAPP-1 C) (World Bank/IDA H6510-BJ) and the HAAGRIM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Recherches sur les Zones Humides, Département de Zoologie, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université d’Abomey – Calavi, B.P. 526, Cotonou, Bénin

    Comlan Ephrem Tossavi & Emile Didier Fiogbe

  2. Laboratoire d’Hydrobiologie, UFR Biosciences, Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

    Comlan Ephrem Tossavi & Nahoua Issa Ouattara

  3. University Namur, URBE, Bruxelles Street, 61, B-5000, Namur, Belgium

    Jean-Claude Micha

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  1. Comlan Ephrem Tossavi
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  2. Nahoua Issa Ouattara
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Correspondence to Comlan Ephrem Tossavi.

Ethics declarations

The fishing of S. intermedius broodstock for scientific research purposes was authorized by decision N° 079/MAEP/SGM/DPH/SAGP/Se of 07 July 2015.

National and international guidelines that were followed for using animals in this study are:

- framework law n ° 2014-19 of 07 August 2014 relating to fishing and aquaculture in the Republic of Benin.

- Directive 2010/63 / EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2010 on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes.

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Tossavi, C.E., Ouattara, N.I., Fiogbe, E.D. et al. Artificial reproduction and reproductive parameters of silver catfish Schilbe intermedius (Siluriformes: Schilbeidae) – implications for the conservation and domestication of this threatened species. Biologia 76, 2619–2627 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11756-021-00740-x

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