Dietary Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) Improves Reproductive Indices in Male African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Broodstock

Abstract

The effect of dietary aqueous extract of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) leaf powder on growth and reproductive indices of male catfish, Clarias gariepinus bloodstocks was investigated. Fish fed experimental diets showed significantly improved reproductive indices over the control fish. Significantly higher (P < 0.05) gonadosomatic index was recorded for the fish fed diets of aqueous extract of T. occidentalis leaf powder compared to fish fed on control diet. These results revealed that supplement diets with medicinal plant (T. occidentalis) improve gonadosomatic index, and reproductive indices of male C. gariepinus broodstocks and this plant has a potential pro-fertility property which can be exploited in fish fingerling production by hatchery operators.