An experiment was conducted on induced breeding and fry rearing of shing, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) in the Department of Aquaculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University for a period of four months from April to July 1994. Hatching rate was calculated at 21.50h and was found to be 45 to 55 % and the survival rate of larvae was 30 to 40 % at 26 to 29°C. Survival rate and growth rate of post larvae were found to be 50 to 60% and 96.6 to 117.2% respectively. Feed-3 (F3) showed the highest survival rate and growth rate of post larvae

Das, M.

Islam, M.A.

Islam, M.S.

Rahamatullah, S.M.

Saha, J.K.

Aquatic Commons

Bangladesh}. Fish. Res., 2 (2), 1998 : 139-144 
Studies on the induced breeding and post-larval 
rearing of shing (Heteropneustes fossilis Bloch ) 
J.K. Saha, M.A. Islam*, M Das, S.M. Rahamatullah and M.S. Islam 
Department of Aquaculture 
Bangladesh Agricultural University 
Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh 
* Corresponding author 
Abstract 
An experiment was conducted on induced breeding and fry rearing of shing 
,Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) in the Department of Aquaculture, Bangladesh 
Agricultural University for a period of four months from April to July 1994. 
Hatching rate was calculated at 21.50 hrs and was found to be 45 to 55 % and 
the survival rate of larvae was 30 to 40 % at 26 to 29°C. Survival rate and growth 
rate of post larvae were found to be 50 to 60 % and 96.6 to 117.2 % 
respectively. Feed-3 (F 3) showed the highest survival rate and growth rate of post 
larvae. 
Key words : H. fossilis, Induced breeding, Larvae rearing 
Introduction 
The technique of induced fish breeding found its application in fish culture 
where it turned out to be very promising. Induced breeding is currently gaining 
importance in composite fish culture (Saha 1995). Heteropneustes fossilis 
(Bloch) locally known as "shing" is an important air breathing catfish in 
Bangladesh._ The nutritive and medicinal value of this fish has been recognized 
from time immemorial. Shing is a popular fish in Bangladesh and generally 
grows in pond, lake, baor, beels, and floodplains with natural care. It has been 
drawing the attention of more and more fish farmers in Bangladesh day by day 
due to its high market values, profitable culture and hardy nature. Shing breeds 
in natural waterbodies but natural habitats have alarmingly declined due to 
ecological changes. So collection of shing fry from natural source is difficult for 
fish culturist. 
Recently scientists have started to breed the fish artificially by using HCG 
(Human Chorionic Gonadotropin and Pituitary gland (Rahamatullah et a/. 1983, 
Islam eta/. 1986, Mollah 1987, Naser eta/. 1990). However, induced breeding 
and rearing of larvae of shing are facing various problem for the expansion of its 
culture. So we should take proper initiative to meet the demand of fry 
requirement for its culture by induced breeding through HCG. HCG was used 
because it is more economical than carp pituitary gland extract (Naser eta/. 
}.K. Saha eta/. 
1990). The main problem in larval rearing in the lack of suitable feed of 
appropriate size and quality particularly at the stage of first feeding just after 
utilization of yolk-mass. The present studies were undertaken with the following 
objectives : a) to develop an appropriate technique of induced breeding of H. 
fossilis and b) to formulate an artificial feed from the indigenous ingredients for 
fry rearing of shing. 
Materials and method 
Brood fish maintenance 
Male and female brood fishes of shing ( H. fossi/is) were stocked in the 
ponds of the Department of Aquaculture and Management in March 1994.The 
size of the stocking ponds were 60 m 2 and fishes were kept at a density of 
20,000 fish/ha. The broods were given artificial feed (1 0% fish meal + 10% soya 
meal + 80% wheat bran) at the rate of 12 to 15% body weight twice a day. The 
water depth of the ponds were 1.22 to 1.53 m in the rainy season and 0.46 to 
0.61 m in the winter. Ponds have outlet to prevent the overflow of the water in 
the rainy season. The ponds were treated with lime (at the rate of 1 OOkg/ha) 
twice a year first in May and second in November and subsequently fertilized 
with urea (30 kg/ha), triple super phosphate (30 kg/ha), cowdung (4,000 kg/ha) 
and mustered oil cake (20 kg/ha) twice a year first in May and Second in 
November. In the rainy season, ponds were surrounded by net as a precaution 
of escaping of fish from the ponds. The fishes were collected by seine net and 
carried to the laboratory and kept in the trays (30.48 em x 60.96 em x 15.24 
em). 
Induced breeding and post-larval rearing 
Properly ripe males and females shing (milt and eggs come out with very 
gentle pressure on the abdomen respectively) were selected from the brood 
stock. Fish were injected intramuscularly with HCG extract at a dose of 500 
I.U./1 OOg body weight. The total dose was divided into two equal doses and was 
injected to males and females at 6 hours interval. Male and female of a pair 
were kept together after each injection and aeration of water was maintained in 
aquaria. Care was taken to prevent fish loss by jumping. After 4 to 5 hours of 
2nd injection natural ovulation was noted. Brood fish were separated from the 
aquaria. Fertilized eggs were incubated in trays in three replications at room 
temperature (26-29°C) and the aeration of water was maintained. About half of 
the water of each trays was changed after every six hours during incubation. The 
hatchling came out after 20-22 hours and dead eggs ,egg shells were picked up 
by means of a dropper. After the completion of hatching, spawn was transferred 
to other trays and kept there for 4 days until the larval period was completed 
without feeding. After completion of the larval period, the post larvae were 
transferred to the polythene covered trays (30.48 em x60.96cm x15.24cm) at 
140 
Breeding & larval rearing of H. fossilis 
two densities of 10 post larvae/tray and 20 post larvae/tray in three replication. 
Three different kinds of feeds were provided to post larvae of two different 
densities. Therefore, a total of eighteen trays were used for the rearing of post 
larvae. Three different types of foods were regarded as F 1, F 2 and F3 • 
1 OOg, powdered mi I k 
One egg 
1 OOg, boiled potato 
1 OOg, raw fish muscle 
without skin 
Feed composition 
1 OOg, powdered milk 
One egg 
1 OOg, boiled potato 
1 OOg, raw fish muscle 
with skin 
1 OOg, powdered milk 
One egg 
1 OOg, boiled potato 
1 OOg, boiled fish with skin, 
viscera and bone 
The feed was prepared in paste form. Feeds were given twice a day in the 
form of dough of paste at 10% of body weight. Excess feeds and wastes were 
removed by dropper after one hour of feeding. Half of the water along with 
faecal wastes from each tray was changed daily and aeration was maintained by 
air stones. Growth rate of post larvae was studied for two weeks, for which the 
length of fish were measured to nearest mm after each week and side by side 
mortality was recorded. 
Statistical analysis 
The experiment were conducted in Randomised Block Design (RBD) with 
three replication and two way analysis of variance (ANOVA) in RBD was done to 
study the effect of different feed and density on survival and growth rates. 
Duncun's Multiple Range Test (DMRT) was used for mean separation of 5% 
level of significance. The percentage data was arcsine transformed before 
statistical analysis. Data was analysed with a statistical package called 
stategraphic version 7. 
Results and discussion 
Hatching time and larval period of shing 
Hatching time was found 21.50 hours and hatching rate was 45 to 55%, 
larval period was found 94 to 96 hours and ·survival rate of larvae was found to 
be 30 to 40% at 26-29°C (Table 1 ). Hatching and yolk of fish eggs were reported 
to be temperature dependent (Margulies 1989 and Clarke 1989). 
Mukhopadhyay (1972) reported that hatching time of H. fossi!is ranged from 20 
to24 hours and farval period from 4 to 5 days at 25°C. Thakur eta/. (1974) noted 
the hatching period of shing to vary from 18 to 20 hours while the larval period 
was 96 hours at temperature ranging from 26 to 29°C. 
141 
j.K. Saha et a/. 
Table 1. Hatching time and rates, yolk absorption time and survival rates of larvae at room 
temperature (26-29°C) 
Replication Time required for Hatching rates Yolk absorption Survival rates 
No. 50% hatching (hr) (%) time (hr) (%) 
22.00 45-55 94-96 30-40 
2 21.30 45-55 94-96 30-40 
3 20.00 45-55 94-96 30-40 
Mean 21.50 45-55 94-96 30-40 
Survival rates of post-larvae of shing 
The different artificial feed (three different types) showed significant effect 
(P<O.Ol) upon the survival rates of H. fossilis. The highest survival rates 
recorded at F3 (60%) and lowest survival rates recorded at F1 (50%) are shown in 
Table 2. Findings of this experiment indicated that the F3 gave better survival rate 
for shing larvae. Which might be due to the high mineral content of the F3 than 
other feeds. As F3 contained boiled fish including bon~-masses. Mineral play 
vital role in metabolism and growth of fish (White eta/. 1959). It was found 
that when fishes were fed a phosphorus deficient diet the growth is retarded 
and their mortality is increased ( Andrews et a/. 1973, Watanabe et a/. 
1980,Yone and Toshima 1979). Density 1 (1 0 post larvae/tray) and density 2 (20 
post larvae/tray) indicated the similar survival rates 50 to 60% ( Ta.ble 2 ). Survival 
rates of shing post larvae was perhaps not density dependent. Woiwode a11d 
Adelman (1989) noted that survival rates of channel catfish ( Jctalurus punctatus) 
were not significantly influenced by fish density, same results were obtained in 
Atlantic salmon (Soderberg and Meade 1987, Soderberg eta/. 1987). Karjalainen 
(1991) reported 60% survival rate of vendace (Caregonus albula ) at all densities. 
Table 2. Effects of teed and density on the survival rates and growth rates of post larvae 
of shing for two weeks 
PUtray Feed Survival Initial 1st week 2nd week Net Growth rates 
rates length growth growth growth (%) 
(%) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) 
so.oob 5.8 7.oc 11.5 c 5.7c 98.27 
10 2 so.oob 5.8 7.sb 12.ob 6.2b 106.89 
3 6o.ooa 5.8 8.2a 12.6a 6.8a 117.24 
Mean 53.33 5.8 7.57 12.03 6.23 107.46 
1 so.ooc 5.8 7.0c 11.4 c 5.6c 96.55 
20 2 ss.oob 5.8 7.4b 11.9b 6.1b 105.17 
3 6o.ooa 5.8 8.2a 12.6a 6.8a 117.24 
Mean 55.00 5.8 7.53 12.0 6.17 106.32 
Separation of mean was done within column at 5% level of DMRT 
142 
Breeding & larval rearing of H. fossil is 
Growth rates of post-larvae of shing 
The different feed showed significant effect (P<0.01) upon the length of 
shing. The highest length increment was recorded in F3 (6.8 mm) and the lowest 
length increment was 5.6 mm in F1 • However, significant differences in length 
was noted among the different feed. On the other hand highest growth rate 
(117.24%) was showed with F 3 and the lowest growth rate (96.55%) recorded 
with F1 (Table 2). Growth data indicated that the F 3 was suitable feed for post 
larvae of H. fossil is. The highest growth was recorded in F 3 because it contained 
more fish fat, protein and fish bone which contain various minerals such as 
calcium and phosphorus. Fishes require mineral as essential factors ih their 
metabolism and growth, however, it was also important from a nutritional point 
of view. Andrews eta/. (1973) noted that dietary phosphorus requirement was 
0.8% for maximum growth of channel catfish (/ctalurus punctatus). Cho and 
Schell (1980) reported that calcium and phosphorus requirement were 6g/kg 
dry diet and 7g/kg dry diet respectively for growth of fishes. 
The different densities showed that there Wa$ no significant effect on the 
growth rate of shing. Similar groWth rates (highest 117.24% and lowest 96.55 to 
98.27% ) were recorded at both densities (Table 2). The result of this study 
showed that the stocking density has ho definite effect on the growth rate of H. 
fossi/is. Same results was obtained in Atlantic salmon ( Soderberg and Meade 
1987, Soderberg eta/. 1987). Karjalainen (1991) reported· 60% ·survival rate of 
vends ( Caregonus albula) at all densities. 
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(Manuscript received 17 August 1997) 
144 


Studies on the induced breeding and post-larval rearing of shing (Heteropneustes fossilis Bloch)

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