Abstract
The seasonal abundance, population structure, reproduction, feeding, respiratory adaptations and tolerance were studied in the catfish Clarias lazera (Cuv. & Val.) in the reservoir of Jebel Aulia on the White Nile, and in the Green-Belt canals near Khartoum. Continuous monitoring of the ripe, spent and spawning females and immature fish in the population revealed that C. lazera breed synchronously in the autumn in the reservoir and rather sporadically in the canals. Medium-sized females were more fecund than old and young females. Administration of pituitary extract enhanced maturation, induced spawning in mature fish, stimulated body growth, especially in maturing specimens, and produced, as a side-effect, a diuretic response. Mature fish depended on pulmonary respiration for about 45% of the total oxygen requirement. C. lazera fed preferentially on its fry and on decayed proteinaceous food. The suitability of this species for economic cultivation is discussed.
Keywords
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Ahmed, A. A., 1978. On the biology of cyprinid fish in the northern part of White Nile. M.Sc. Thesis. Hydrobiol. res. Unit, University of Khartoum.
Atz, J. W. & Pickford, C. E., 1959. The role of pituitary hormones in fish culture. Endeavour 18: 125–129.
Babiker, M. M., 1979a. Respiratory behaviour, oxygen consumption and relative dependence on aerial respiration in the African lungfish (Protopterus annectens, Own) and an air-breathing teleost (Clarias lazera C.). Hydrobiologia 65: 177–187.
Babiker, M. M., 1979b. Antidiuretic responses to neurohypophysial hormones of the siluroid teleost Clarias lazera (C. & V.). Proc. 2nd. symp. fish physiol. 1979. Goteberg, Sweden.
Babiker, M. M. & Rankin, J. C., 1978. Neurohypophysial hormonal control of kidney function in the European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) adapted to sea water or fresh water. J. Endocr. 76: 347–358.
Babiker, M. M. & Ibrahim, H., 1979a. Studies on the biology of reproduction in the cichlid Tilapia nilotica (L.): gonadal maturation and fecundity. J. fish. Biol. 14: 437–448.
Babiker, M. M. & Ibrahim, H., 1979b. Studies on the biology of reproduction in the cichlid Tilapia nilotica (L.): effects of steroid and trophic hormones on ovulation and ovarian hydration. J. fish. Biol. 15: 21–30.
Bagenal, T., 1978. Methods of assessment offish production in fresh waters. IBP Handbook No. 3, 3rd edn. Blackwell Scientific publications, Oxford, London, Edinburgh.
Bishai, H. M., 1962. Experiments on the suitability of broad beans (Vicia faba L.) as diet for fish. Hydrobiologia 20: 31–39.
Bishai, H. M., Ishag, M. M. & Labib,W., 1974. Fecundity of the mirror carp Cyprinus carpio L. at the Serow fish farm (Egypt). Aquaculture 4: 257–265.
Billy, T. J., 1970. Processing pond-raised catfish. Proceedings California catfish conference, Sacramento, California, U.S.A. Agricultural Extension Service, University of California, pp. 71–77.
Billy, T. J., 1974. Pond-grown catfishes in the United States: present situation and future opportunities. In: Kreuzer, R. (ed.), Fishery Products. FAO Fishery News Books Ltd. England, pp. 262–267.
Brown, E. E., 1977. World Fish Farming; Cultivation and Economics. Avi Publishing Co., Westport, Connecticut.
Chadhuri, H., 1976. Use of hormones in induced spawning of carps. J. Fish Res. Bd Can. 33: 940–947.
Clemens, H. P. & Sneed, K. E., 1957. The spawning behaviour of the Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. U. S. Fish Wild. Serv. spec. sci. Rep. Fish. 219: 11 pp.
Dodd, J. M., 1977. The structure of the ovary of non-mammalian vertebrates. In: Zuckerman, S. & Weir, B. J. (eds.), The Ovary, 2nd edn. Vol. II. Academic Press, London, pp. 219–263.
Donahue, J. R., 1968. United States fish market. Reported according to Billy, T. J., 1974.
Driedzic, W. R., Phleger, C. F., Fields, J. H. A. & French, C., 1978. Alterations in energy metabolism associated with the transition from water to air breathing in fish. Can. J. Zool. 56: 730–755.
Fontaine, M., 1976. Hormones and the control of reproduction in aquaculture. J. Fish Res. Bd Can. 33: 922–939.
Grizzell, R. A., Dillon, O. W. & Sullivan, E. G., 1969. Catfish farming — A new farm crop. Farmer’s Bulletin No. 2244. Soil Conservation Service, Department of Commerce, Washington D. C., U.S.A.
Hollerman, W. D. & Boyd, C., 1980. Nightly aeration to increase production of channel catfish. Trans. am. fish. Soc. 109: 446–452.
Hora, S. L. & Pillay, T. V. R., 1962. Handbook of Fish Culture in the Indo-Pacific Region. FAO Fish. biol. tech. Paper 14, 204 pp.
Huet, M., 1972. Textbook of Fish Culture: Breeding & Cultivation of Fish. Fishing News Books Ltd., Farnham, England.
Konikoff, M. & Lewis, W. M., 1974. Variation in weight of cage-reared channel catfish. Prog. Fish Cult. 36: 138–144.
McClung, J., 1972. Catfish industry stability after troubled 1960’s. Feedstuffs 44.
Moussa, T. A., 1956. Morphology of the accessory air-breathing organs of the teleost: Clarias lazera(C. & V.). J. Morph. 98: 125–160.
Polder, F. J.W., 1961. Cyclical changes in testis, and ovary related to maturity stages in the North Sea herring Clupea harengus L. Arch, neerl. Zool. 14: 45–60.
Randolph, K. W. & Clemens, H. P., 1976. Some factors influencing the feeding behaviour of channel catfish in culture ponds. Trans. am. fish. Soc. 105: 718–724.
Sidthimunka, A., Sangbert, J. & Pawapootanon, A., 1968. The culture of catfish (Clarias spp.) in Thailand. World symposium on warm-water pond fish culture, Rome 1966. FAO Fish. Rep. 44: 196–204.
Smith, S. L., 1976. Behavioural suppression of spawning in largemouth bass by interspecific competition for space within spawning areas. Trans. am. Fish. Soc. 105: 682–685.
Tiemeier, O. W. & Deyoe, C. W., 1967. Producing channel catfish. Kansas State University Bull. No. 508, 23 pp. New York, U.S.A.
Toole, M., 1951. Channel catfish culture in Texas. Prog. Fish Cult. 13: 3–10.
Tucker, L., Boyd, C. E. & McCoy, E. W., 1979. Effects of feeding rate on water quality, production of channel catfish and economic returns. Trans. am. Fish. Soc. 108: 389–396.
Yamazaki, F., 1976. Application of hormones in fish culture. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 33: 948–958.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1984 Dr W. Junk Publishers, The Hague
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Babiker, M.M. (1984). Aspects of the biology of the catfish Clarias lazera (Cuv. & Val.) related to its economic cultivation. In: Dumont, H.J., el Moghraby, A.I., Desougi, L.A. (eds) Limnology and Marine Biology in the Sudan. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 21. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-6557-7_32
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-6557-7_32
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-009-6559-1
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-6557-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive