Male organs of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) in spawning and non-spawning periods in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

The study was undertaken to investigate the gross reproductive organs of wild male Clarias gariepinus in spawning and non-spawning periods. Twenty mature males of C. gariepinus comprising of ten each during both periods were used. They weighed an average of 532 ± 8.32 gm during spawning and 510.8 ± 9.27 gm during non-spawning season and measured a standard body length of 43.2±4.72 cm and 42.1±2.48 cm during spawning and non-spawning seasons respectively. All fish were sourced from Gamboru fish market, Maiduguri and transported live to the gross Anatomy laboratory, Department of Veterinary Anatomy University of Maiduguri. Each fish was euthanized using tricaine anaesthetic at 8 drops/litre of water. The reproductive organs were removed en mass using scalpel, forceps, and scissors. Then the number of seminal vesicles were determined during spawning (37.8 ± 4.53) and non-spawning (36.32 ± 3.68) periods. The organs were seen consisting of lobular testes, milt duct, seminal vesicles, bulbourethral gland and papilla, which are whitish and milky colour appearances in spawning and non-spawning periods respectively. The milt duct which have the paired and unpaired part were also seen clearly in non- spawning period but relatively invisible in spawning period.