SPAWNING PERFORMANCE OF ALBINO AND NORMALLY-PIGMENTED FEMALE CHANNEL CATFISH INDUCED TO SPAWN WITH HCG OR OVAPRIM

Goudie, Cheryl A. (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Catfish Genetics Research Unit, P.O. Box 38, Stoneville, MS 38776),
Bill A. Simco (Department of Biology, Memphis State University, Memphis, TN 38152) and
Nick C. Parker (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeastern Fish Cultural Laboratory, Rt. 3, Box 86, Marion, AL 36756).

Scattered publications and anecdotal reports indicate that albino channel catfish spawn less readily than normally-pigmented fish. We used albino females to produce gynogenetic fish; albino offspring provide an immediate indication of success. Spawning performance was evaluated for albino and normal females induced to spawn with HCG or Ovaprim (LHRHa and domperidome). Albino females injected with HCG late in the spawning season required more injections and had lower spawning success than normal females. No differences between albinos and normals were observed for time of day of spawning, time to spawn after last injection, number of eggs obtained by manual stripping, and number of eggs/Kg. When fish were induced to spawn earlier in the season, about 80% of albino and normal HCG-injected and normal Ovaprim-injected females spawned, but only 40% of albinos injected with Ovaprim spawned. Albino females produced 50% fewer eggs/Kg than normal females when manually stripped. Other performance characteristics for albino and normal females were similar whether injected with HCG or Ovaprim. Differences between HCG-induced albino and normal females probably resulted from high temperatures encountered late in the season. When environmental conditions were optimal, responses were similar regardless of pigmentation or hormone.