Ovopel® and carp pituitary extract for induction of reproduction in Colossoma macropomum females

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the hormonal inducers Ovopel((R)). and carp pituitary extract (CPE) for induction of reproduction in Colossoma macropomum females. The treatments were CPE at the dose of 5.5 mg/kg divided into two applications (10%; and 90% after 12 h) and Ovopel((R)) at doses of 0.2 and 0.4 pellet/kg body weight in a single application. Eight replicates were used in each of the three treatments, totaling 24 experimental units. The females spawned when treated with the 0.2 pellet of Ovopel((R)) (100.0%), 0.4 pellet of Ovopel((R)) (62.5%), and CPE (87.5%), but there were no significant differences among the treatment groups in spawning rate. When there was treatment with Ovopel((R)) spawning occurred with greater (P < 0.05) degree-hours (average water temperature x number of hours until spawning; 0.2 pellet: 417.7; 0.4 pellet: 412.3) in relation to the CPE treatment (268.9). The total oocyte weight was similar when there was treatment with Ovopel((R)) (0.2 pellet: 832.3 g; 0.4 pellet: 798.9 g) and CPE (688.3 g). By contrast, the production index was greater (P < 0.05) with the Ovopel((R)) treatments (0.2 pellet: 8.8%; 0.4 pellet: 9.0%) as compared with CPE (6.7%). Fertility and hatching rates were similar among the treatment groups. Ovopel((R)) and CPE are efficient in induction of reproduction in C. macropomum females. Of the two Ovopel((R)) treatments assessed in this study, the dose of 0.2 pellet/kg body weight is sufficient for effective induction of reproductive processes.