Homoplastic Hypophysation of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus, Burchell 1822) Using Catfish Pituitary Gland with Coconut Water as Extender Agent

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of coconut water as an extender agent on the reproductive variables of Clarias gariepinus. The study used 18 healthy broodstocks with body weight ranging from 300 g to 750 g. The four treatments used were: 100% diluted pituitary gland for T1, 75% coconut water and 25% diluted pituitary gland for T2, 50% coconut water and 50% diluted pituitary gland for T3, and 25% coconut water and 75% diluted pituitary gland for T4. T1 had the highest mean fecundity value with 33,366.67 eggs, followed by T3 with 33,416.67 eggs, while T2 had the lowest with 27,466.67 eggs. The GSI was highest in T1 at 12.96%, while T2 had the lowest at 10.69%. The fertilization rate was significantly different among treatments, with T1 having the highest rate of 95.94%, followed by T4 at 92.43%. T3 and 2 had rates of 88.26% and 87.14%, respectively. The hatchability rate was also significantly different among treatments, with T1 having the highest rate of 91.5%, followed by T4 at 84.1%. T3 had a hatchability rate of 76.2%, and T2 had the lowest hatchability rate of 73.1%. The water temperature was within the optimum range, but the pH fell short of the optimum range. Overall, the study suggests that using coconut water as an extender agent can improve fertilization and hatchability rates in C. gariepinus injected with pituitary gland extract.