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Breeding and Rearing of an Exotic Ornamental Catfish, Corydorus aeneus (Gill, 1858) in Kolkata, West Bengal and Its Economics

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Abstract

Cory cat, Corydorus aeneus (Gill, 1858) are popular among the hobbyists all over the world. They were reared successfully in glass aquaria and small cemented tanks in Kolkata, India. The females attained sexual maturity at the age of 12.2 ± 1.8 SD months while the males took 24.0 ± 1.6 SD months to take part in reproduction. Females are larger and more rounded than the males while males are attractive because of the dorsal fin. At a temperature range 14–22 °C breeding was continued during November to March period in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Cooling of egg laying substratum stimulated spawning to a great extent. Under favourable thermal condition breeding took place at an interval of 10.4 ± 2.1 SD days. Brood size varied from 175–225 and on average 80 % eggs were fertile. Water quality management and supply of proper food proved successful to establish an economically viable farm through the spread of indoor aqua business.

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Acknowledgments

Author is grateful to Mr. Naren Santra, Proprietor of ‘Fish and Fun’, Kolkata for providing facilities to conduct this study. Author is also grateful to Dr. W.S. Lakra, Director and Vice Chancellors, Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai for providing necessary facilities to carry out the works.

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Correspondence to B. K. Mahapatra.

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Mahapatra, B.K., Dutta, S. Breeding and Rearing of an Exotic Ornamental Catfish, Corydorus aeneus (Gill, 1858) in Kolkata, West Bengal and Its Economics. Proc Zool Soc 68, 159–163 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12595-014-0113-8

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