The role of several environmental factors on the breeding and hatching of fish has been studied by many earlier investigators. Perfection in the hypophysation technique has helped to some extent in by-passing the environmental variables such as temperature, light and rain. With the use of a modern fish hatchery, it is possible to attain maximum success in breeding and hatching, even without rains; reference is given to studies carried out regarding the role of rainfall in the breeding of Labeo rohita, Cirrhinus mrigala, Catla catla

Alkesh, D.

Jain, Atul K.

Mitra, S.D.

Singh, R.

Aquatic Commons

Journal of the Indian Fisheries Association, 
14 & 15, 1984-85, 67-73 
ROLE OF RAINFALL IN THE BREEDING OF 
LABEO ROHITA (HAM.) CIRRHINUS MRIGALA (HAM.),CATLA CATL4 
(HAM.), AT DAMDAMA (HARYANA), A SEMI-ARID ZONE. 
ATUL K. JAIN~ R. SINGH, D. ALKESH AND S. D. MITRA 
Damdama Research Project, Damdama, H aryan a. 
ABSTRACT 
The role of several environmental factors on the breeding and hatching 
of fish has been worked out by many earlier investigators. Perfection in hyp.J· 
physation technique helped to some extent in by passing the environmental 
variables such as temperature, light and rain. With the use of modern fish hatchery~ 
it is possible to attain maximum success in breeding and hatching, even 
without rains. 
INTRODUCTION 
Fish spawning is mainly controlled by several environmental factors. 
Jbrahim et al. (1957), Hoar (1959), Chaudhri (1960), Alikunhi et al. (1960L 
Ahsan (1966) and Badami and David (1964) studied the role of environmen-
tal facton on t\he matunl:tion and breeding of fish. 
The semi-arid zones in Haryana are characterized by adverse climatic 
conditions which include low iand erratic rainfall, del·ayed monsoon, higher 
temperatme and less humidity, which do not provide suitable conditions for fish 
tlo breed. Effollts were made to breed fish in controlled conditions of hatchery 
and the effects of rainfa'H, tempemture and oxygen were studied. 
According to Khan (1945), Chaudhry (;1963) and Alikunhi et al. (1964), 
lndi:an major cmps breed \\f1i,th in a temperature range of 24-31 °C. Hora ( 1945), 
Si'!ha et al. (1957) and Jh~ngran (1968) are of the view that fresh rain water 
and flooded cqnditions in a tank are the primary faotors in triggering the spaw-
ning of carps. Successful spawning in majority of fishes has been induced on 
cloudy and rainy days, especially after heavy showers (Chaudhri, 1969). 
Clemens (1967) statted that pitutiacy injection to some extent may bypass the 
envionmen.tal vari~ables of temperalture, light and ram. The modern fish hatchery 
* Present address: Fresh Water Fish Farm of ClFE, Powarkheda, Hoshangabad (M.P). 
68 JAIN, SINGH AND MITRA 
Model CIFE D-80 & D-81 (Dwivedi and Ravindranathan, 1982) whioh make 
use of ground-water (tube weH water) has revolutionised seed production of 
culturable species of major carps. 
All experiments were perfQrmed in the modern fish hatchery (Model 
CIFE D-80) unit at Damdama fish seed farm. Breeders of Catla calla, Labeo 
rohita, and Cirrhinus mrigala were stocked in a 0.07 ha. pond. Breeders were fed 
on groundnut . oil cake and rice bran ( 1 : 1 ) at the rate of 1 % of body weight 
throughout the year. Bei1ore fust injection, the breeders• were acclamatized in a 
breeding pool of size 6' x 3' havting oontim1ous supply of groundwater in the 
florm ol sihower from overhead tJank. The fir&t dose of pitutiary extract at 2.0 
mg/kg body weight was injected only to the females. Again after an interval ot 
3~4 hrs, hoth males and femaJlies. were injected with the extract at 2.0 mg/Kg and 
4.0 mg/Kg respectively. The extmct was prepared in distilled water. Glands col ... 
lected ear1ier :frQm rivenine major carps and stocked in absolute alcohol only 
were used for this purpose. Breediing succes·s was 13chieved in aU the sets injecte-d. 
Breeding success was calculated based on the observations that 1 Kg of Labeo 
rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala lays 3.00 lakh and Catla catla lays 2.00 J,akh eggs 
on an average. Eggs were coUected and transfered to the vertical jar hatchery 
made of LDPE (Low density polyethylene), connected with an inlet at the 
bottom, and supplied with ground water through an overhead tank. 
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 
Fig. 1 shows the re'a1tlionship between breeding success, fertilization and 
hat:ching success against mdnfaJ:l. Even without amy rainfall or very less rains 
suceessfu1 breeding and hatching wt:re noted. 
Daily 
RAJNFALL 
(MM) 
)0 
20. 
10 
-=- RAINFAll 
~/0BREEOING SUCCESS 
•·-· • _.%FERTILIZATION 
•-·- ~/oHATCHING 
s ll 
Fig, 1. Breeding of carps ahd rainfall at Damdamt\ 
%SUCCESS 
100 
90 
80 
70 
60 
ROLE OF RAINFALL IN BREEDING OF FIS.H 
Table I. Factors controlled for successful breeding of majos carps. 
Factors Range Mean 
Dissolved oxygen (groundwater) 1.7-1.9 mg/1 1.8 mg/l 
Dissolved oxygen (overhead tank 4.8-5.2 mg/1 5.0 mg/l 
Disst,Jved oxygen (breeding pool) 7.5-8.5 mg/1 8.0 mg/1 
pH 7.0 7.0 
Temperature 26-28°C 27°C 
Free Co2 Negligible Negligible 
Turbidity Nil Nil 
Table II. Labeo rohita spawn production at Damdama iri 1984 
1 emperature oC Breeding Fert. Hatch. 
Date No. of hatchery DO Rainfall success success success 
mg/1 mm female Air Room Pool water % % % 
4.7.84 2 35.0 35.0 28.0 8.0 Nil 100 95 84.4 
14.7.84 3 34.0 31.0 28.0 8.0 12.70 100 90 59.8 
14.7.84 2 34.0 31.0 28.0 8.0 12.70 100 80 71.4 
20.7.84 2 37.5 32.0 28.0 8.0 2.54 100 95 
---* 
20.7.84 2 37.5 32.0 28.0 8.0 2.54 100 90 
---"' 
25.7.84 1 36.0 31.0 28.0 8.0 100 80 79.2 
25.7.84 1 36.0 31.0 28.0 8.0 100 90 97.2 
27.7.84 2 35.0 30.0 28.0 8.0 100 90 90.8 
27.7.84 1 35.0 30.0 28.0 8.0 75 90 75.7 
27.7.84 1 35.0 30.0 28.0 8.0 100 85 73.5 
27.7.84 1 35.0 30.0 28.0 8.0 100 80 92.9 
28.7.84 1 36.0 30.0 28.0 8.0 100 85 82.3 
30.7.84 1 34.0 30.0 28.0 8.0 73.7 90 97.7 
30.7.84 1 34.0 30.0 28.0 8.0 100 95 97.7 
31.7.84 1 33.0 30.0 28.0 8.0 100 100 95.7 
31.7.84 I 33.0 30.0 28.0 8.0 85.7 90 92.7 
2.8.84 1 32.0 30.0 28.0 8.0 7.70 100 90 90.9 
2.8.84 1 32.0 30.0 28.0 8.0 7.70 100 75 86.5 
2.8.84 I 32.0 30.0 28.0 8.0 7.70 68.3 90 90.3 
3.8.84 2 34.0 30.0 28.0 8.0 100 ()0 75.8 
3.8.84 2 34.0 30.0 28.0 8,0 53.3 fiO 66.9 
4.8.84 35.0 30.5 28.0 8.0 100 80 
---* 
4.8.84 35.0 30.5 28.0 8.0 100 75 
-·-* 
4.8.84 2 35.0 30.5 28.0 8.0 4.1 75 
---* 
16.8.84 36.0 31.0 28.0 8.0 5.10 100 90 76 
J Failure due to shortage of watet• supply. 
70 JAIN, SlNGH AND MITRA 
Dissolved oxygen and temperature direcd~Y influence physiological and 
metaboLic activities of developing eggs and spawn. In natural enviornments carp 
eggs get settled art: the bottom and are oovered by silt. Therefore, there is no 
direct contact between t1he embryo and the surrounding water. Decompos[tion of 
dead plankton, other water organisms aloog with other organic matter present in 
the water also contribute 1to the rapid decline of dissolved oxygen of water. The 
amounrt of DO present irn wa:~er is inversely re1lated ;to tempe:rature. So, in 
natural environment trainfall., brings down the temperature and increases the 
dissolved oxygen of water, thus: providing optimal conditions for the fish to 
spawn. 
At Damdama (a semi-arid zone) air temperature and water temperature 
were recorded as high as 42,oC and 38<>C respectively during the month of July 
and August 1984. Using the modem fish hatchery model CIFE D-80 (Mitra 
t>t al. 1983) whioh make use of tubewell water (temperature 27 ± 1 °C). Tube well 
water fc:H in the breeding tank in the form of a shower after passing throulih a 
flllter and a overhead tank. The fi1ter helps in removing any silt particle's in the 
Table Ill. Cirrhinus mrigala spawn production at Damdama in 1984 
No. of 
Temperature oC 
DO Rainfall 
Breeding Fert. Hatch, 
Date hatchery success liuccess success female mg/1 mm % % % Air Room Pool water 
23.6.84 2 38.0 32.0 28.0 8.0 50 80 62.5 
4.7.84 1 35.0 30.0 28.0 8.0 100 95 92.5 
4.7.84 2 35.0 30.0 28.0 8.0 100 85 85.9 
4.7.84 2 35.0 30.0 28.0 8.0 97 80 83.3 
8.7.84 2 32.0 30.0 28.0 8.0 25.40 70 95 
---· 
13.7.84 3 32.0 30.6 28.0 8.0 25.40 100 90 63.0 
17.7.84 2 36.0 31.5 28.0 8.0 7.62 100 80 72.3 
17.7.84 2 36.0 31.5 28.0 8.0 7.62 100 80 63.8 
17.7.84 1 36.0 31.5 28.0 8.0 7.62 88 60 66.6 
17.7.84 1 36.0 31.5 28.0 8.0 7.62 100 60 77.5 
19.7.84 1 36.0 32.0 28.0 8.0 86 65 71.4 
19.7.84 1 36.0 32.0 28.0 8.0 100 90 
·-·* 
20.7.84 2 37.5 32.0 28.0 8.0 2.54 67 85 
---· 
20.7.84 2 37.5 32.0 28.0 8.0 2.54 78.5 90 
---· 
25.7.84 1 36.0 31.0 28.0 8.0 74.0 85 82.5. 
25.7.84 1 36.0 31.0 28.0 8.0 78.0 85 82.5 
25.7.84 1 36,0 31.0 28.0 8.0 100 75 70.9 
25.7.84 1 36.0 31.0 28.0 8.0 100 80 78.1 
4.8.84 2 35.0 30.5 28.0 8.0 50,3 80 
---· 
-----··----
* Failure due to shortage of water supply, 
Table IV. Catla catla spawn production Damdama ih 1984 
Temperature OC Breeding Fert. Hatch. 
Date No. of DO Rainfall hatchery success success success 
female mg/1 mm '% % % Air Room Pool water 
13.7.84 2 32.00 30.00 28.00 8.00 25.40 100 95 86 
13.7.84 1 32.00 30.00 28.00 8.00 25.40 100 95 87.8 
17.7.8'4 1 36.00 31.5 28.0 8.00 7.62 78 60 53.1' 
Table V. Fish spawn production of different •carps under controlled conditions from June to Aug. 1984. 
Month Fish 
June Major carps* 
July Major carps 
August Major carps 
*Lab eo rohita 
Cirrftinus mrigala 
Catla catla 
Sets 
1 
36 
10 
47 
Total 
W t. of female 
(ICgs) ~ 
1000 
55.250 
10.000 
66.250 
35-43 
32-37.5 
32-36 
Temperature oC 
Hatchery 
Room Pool wat. 
25-30 
30.32 
30-31 
26.Q 
28.0 
28.0 
Rainfall 
48.25 
12.80 
Egg/Spawn 
production 
(ln lakhs) 
1.50 
] 62.893 
30.478 
194.871 
Survival/. 
Supply 
(In lakhs) 
0.75 
94.45 
11.75 
106.95 
72 JAIN, SINGH AND MITRA 
water and when the water f,all in the over head tank from a cons,tant height, the. 
dissolved oxygen of warter increases. All these process incmases the level of DO 
from 1.8 mg;ll in the tubewell water to 8.0 mg/1 in the breedJng pool (Table I). 
The water tempemture is maintaine.d at 27 + 1 oe, A continuous flow of water is 
maintained to keep constJa111t level of DO and temperature. 
Fig. 1 and tables II to V show that in the controlled ~conditions of the 
hatchery rainfall and enviommental temperature do not have any relation either 
with breeding success or hatching success (Dwivedi and Ravindranathan, 1982). 
On 4th Jully and 2-8th July, when there was no minfaH and the average atmos-
pheric tempemture was 300C and 36°C respectively, average breeding success 
was 99.25 and 100% respectively, with an average hatching success of 86.52 and 
82.3'% respectively, which is just opposite to thaJt of the 8th July, when rainfall 
and temperature were 25.40 mm and 32°C respectively with a breeding success 
of only 70%. 
Theref'Ore, it is obv,ious that fish breeding does not depend on rainfall in 
contro1led cond1tions of a hatchery where induced breeding is mainly controlled 
by temperature and dissolved oxygen of wa~ter. Thus, it is possible that with the 
use of the modern fisih hatchery large number of fish seed could be produced 
without rain, even in semi-arid conditions as existing in Damdama (Haryana). 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
We are thankful to Dr. S. N. Dwivedi, Director, Central Institute of 
Fisiheries Education, Bombay under whose guidance 1lhe project was being 
operated and Prof. D. K. Chaudhary, Principal RTC for IFO for his encourage ... 
ment. We are also thankful to Mr. Rakesh Kumar, reseamh scholar for his 
assistance. 
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Alikunhi. K. H., SukumCllvan, K. K., and Banerjee, S. C. 1964, Preliminary obser~ 
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Role of rainfall in the breeding of Labeo rohita (Ham.), Cirrhinus mrigala (Ham.), Catla catla (Ham.), at Damdama (Haryana), a semi-arid zone

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Role of rainfall in the breeding of Labeo rohita (Ham.), Cirrhinus mrigala (Ham.), Catla catla (Ham.), at Damdama (Haryana), a semi-arid zone

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