Efficacy of Aloe vera Gel and Water-leaf Extracts for Removal of Egg Adhesiveness during Artificial Propagation of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus, Burchel 1822)

The paper aims to study the best immersion period and concentration of the plant extracts under study (water-leaf and Aloe vera gel) that can efficiently remove egg adhesiveness of Clarias gariepinus. Data generated were subjected to Multivariate Analysis of Variance Test, Tukey multiple range tests was used as a follow up procedure. Third order Polynomial regression analysis was then used to determine the best concentration and immersion period that neutralizes adhesiveness in eggs of C. gariepinus. The experiment was carried out at The Teaching and Research Fish Farm, Federal University of Technology, Akure, between October 2018 to December 2018. One male and one female C. gariepinus brood stock weighing 1.0 kg and 1.3 kg, respectively were used for the experiment. Three different concentrations (1, 3, and 5)% of the plant extracts were used. 2 g of urea diluted in 4 g NaCl/L of water was used as reference de-adhesion agent, while water without urea solution nor plant extracts was used as control. The fish eggs were rinsed with the solutions at different durations of 1, 3 and 5 minutes. Each concentration and rinsing time was recorded in duplicates. Results of the study showed that there were no significant differences (p=0.05) in the non-adhesive egg hatching of eggs immersed in Aloe vera gel and Urea solution. Number of non-adhesive egg and hatching increased in waterleaf extract which was significantly different (P=0.05) from eggs immersed in Aloe vera gel and water but not significantly different from urea solution. Therefore this study shows that waterleaf extract at 1% concentration and 1 minute immersion period can efficiently remove egg adhesiveness and increase hatching in C. gariepinus.