Handbook on the artificial reproduction and pond rearing of the african catfish Clarias gariepinus in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

The manual is based on the practical field experience of Gertjan de Graaf and Johannes Janssen on the artificial reproduction and rearing of the African catfish within FAO field projects in the Central African Republic, The Republic of Congo, Kenya and Nigeria. The manual is divided into five major sections dealing with : 1) general biology, including feeding habits and reproduction; 2) artificial reproduction, including induced propagation without and through hormone injection; 3) fry nursing in earthen ponds, including pond preparation, fertilization, feeding and management; 4) monoculture, including feeding methods; and 5) poly culture with Tilapia. In addition, information is provided concerning the economics of different fingerling and grow-out farming practices in Africa, and concerning diseases and hybridisation.