Determination of artificial propagation biotechnic of Barbus xanthopterus

This project was carried out in the year 2003 in Khuzestan province waters to determine the best artificial propagation techniques for mass production of Barbus xanthopterus. The fish is one of the most valuable and economic species in the area. The propagation was started in late March and continued till late April while suitable temperature was 21-24.5 C. A number of 23 female broodstock with mean weight and length 3.85±0.45kg and 64.95±21cm respectively with a sex ratio of 2:1 male to female were used in the process. The amount of hypophysis injection was 4mg/kg weight of fish and two injections with 10-12 h interval to 10:90 were undertaken. Spawning success was 87% in broodstock. Latency period was 15- 17h and the incubation duration was 59-60h in 23-25 C.The fish eggs has a low stickiness and the count of dry and water-absorbed eggs were 480±32 and 287±25g, respectively. In the twice-injected broodstock, the fertilization rate was 77.22±3.1%, the hatching rate was 81.2 ±1.89% and the survival rate was 83.4±2%. Size of the dry and water-absorbed eggs was 1248±45 and 2110±125, respectively. Washing time with fertilization liquid was 10 min for removing stickiness. In the end, 660 thousand larvae were produced and released to earthen ponds for culture.