The Effect of Cold Storage of Clarias gariepinus Sperm on Hatchability and Survival

Akinyemi, A.A., Ezeri, G.N.O., Idowu, A.A., Odulate, D.O., Olaoye, O.J., Ikenweiwe, N.B., Obasa, S.O., Adeosun, F.I., Abdul, W.O., Agbon, A.O. and Ojoh, E.J.

Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management

Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria

E-mail: adeoluakinyemi@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

This study examined the effect of cold storage of Clarias gariepinus sperm on hatchability and survival. Twelve (12) broodstocks were used for this experiment, testes were collected from the male and stored at 4^oC for the treatment of 12hrs, 36hrs and 48hrs respectively, while fresh sperms were also obtained for the controls. The stored testes were activated to room temperature with stored clean water before being used for fertilization all the fertilized eggs from the four trials were observed to hatch as well as the control. Percentage hatchability was observed to be very low for all the treatment. The percentage hatchability was (10% (12hrs), 20% (36hrs) and 10% (48hrs) respectively. Hatched eggs were under observation for seven days to estimate percentage survival, which was observed to be normal for all treatment, but having a significant differences (P<0.05), with the control having 5168 + 1014^b, and the treatment 71.7 + 2.9^a, 104 + 3.5^a and 110.3 + 20.5^a respectively. The treatment as compared with their control was observed to be relatively low in the percentage hatchability of eggs which may be attributed to sperm motility, milt quality and temperature of the activating medium. Therefore, because of this result it may be concluded that cold storage of sperm of Clarias gariepinus is possible and successfully but in very low capacity and except other methods of cold storage which utilizes extenders such as liquid nitrogen is adopted, it may therefore be recommended based on the poor hatchability observe in  this work, that sperm storage may not be economical for commercial purpose except for experimental programs such as genetic studies, thus fresh sperm for fertilization should be considered the best, and encourage.