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.
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