Artificial reproduction of Schizothorax zarudnyi using synthetic hormones

This study was carried out to evaluate the use of synthetic hormones (ovaprim,hCG) to induce spawning of snow trout(Schizothorax zarudnyi) fish. Wild broods (45 females and 53 males 1328±45, 632±17.6 g, respectively) caught from Chanimeh reservoirs (Sistan, Iran) were transported to Zahak Hatcheries Complex (Sistan Fishery Department). The brood fishes were randomly distributed among five treatment groups:1- females treated with quadruplet injections(0.2, 0.5, 0.5 and 0.3 ml ovaprim/kg B. W.) every 24 hrs. Simultaneously to second injections males were injected with 0.3 ml Ovaprim/kg B. W. 2- Females were injected with combination of ovaprim(0.2, 0.5 and 0.5 ml/kg B. W.) and hCG 1000,2000,2000 IU/kg B.W) and simultaneously to the 2nd injection of females, males were injected with 0.3 ml/kg B. W. ovaprim and 1500 I.U. hCG/kg B. W. C). 3- In the third treatment females were injected with ovaprim plus hCG (0.2, 0.5, 0.5 and 0.3 ml/kg B. W. + 200, 400, 400 and 300 I. U. /kg B.W. respectively every 24 hours) and males received 0.3 ml/kg B.W. ovaprim + 200 I.U. hCG /kg B.W., at the second dose of females via injection. 4- In the fourth treatment females were injected triplet injections of different doses of hCG (400, 800 and 800 I.U. hCG/kg B.W.) every 24 hours and also males (500 I.U./kg B.W.) synchronized to second injections to females.5- Finally,in the fifth treatment 0.3 ml/kg B.W. saline was injected to all males and females belonging to control group. The results showed mean working fecundity for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 groups was 39531±7802, 18625±9704, 15682±5982, 0 and 0, respectively. Latency period was 36.2±3.77, 12.33±0.66 and 30.2±2.95, conversion percentage of dry egg to eyed egg was 88.97±0.9, 73.19±2.04 and 75.26±3.90, conversion percentage of eyed egg to larvae was 81.93±1.15, 75.67±0.19 and 71.03±1.03 for a, b and c groups, respectively. There were significant differences in the fecundity, latency period and other parameters mentioned above between the group treated with only ovaprim and the control group (P<0.05). Based on the results it could be concluded that treatment of Snow trout with ovaprim is effective for spawning induction.