Effects of different hormones on induced spawning and larval quality of Arabian yellowfin seabream Acanthopagrus arabicus

Arabian yellowfin sea bream (Acanthopagrus arabicus) is a candidate for cage culture. In this study to improve spawning performance (in quality and quantity) the effects of using human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogues (LHRH-A2), carp pituitary extract (CPE) and a combination of CPE plus LHRH-A2 in females were investigated. The hormone treatments and control were tested in triplicates. Each replicate was stocked with 30 fish with a sex ratio of 1:1 and the average weights were 675g and 310g for females and males, respectively. In each trial, females were injected twice with the same dose in 24 hours between of either. Spawning occurred in all tanks and the use of all hormones successfully induced spawning in a shorter time. Relative fecundity was found to be significantly elevated in the mix treatment (p<0.05). Fish in the control group and HCG treatment showed the lowest relative fecundity. Buoyant egg percentage was not significantly affected by different hormones. Results of survival rate percentage in 10 and 35 DPH did not show any significant different between treatments and control group (p>0.05). Starvation challenge was designed for 3 DPH larvae. Survival rate of larvae in 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72 hours after starting challenge did not differ significantly among treatments (p>0.05). The present study revealed the best spawning performance of A. arabicus was achieved at a combination of CPE plus LHRH-A2, This hormone combination increases the quantity of produced eggs without affecting their quality.