Reproductive Biology of Pialy Fish, Aspidoparia jaya (Hamilton, 1822) in Bangladesh

Abstract

A study to investigate the reproductive biology of Aspidoparia jaya was conducted in Bangladesh where a total of 80 fish samples were collected on monthly basis from Atrai River and Jamuna River during the period from January 2022 to December 2022. The highest values of the gonado-somatic index (GSI) was recorded in July (11.37±1.75%) and January (9.55±1.35%), whereas highest individual fecundity of 6990±1280 and 5755±1050 and ova diameter of 0.55±0.05 and 0.52±0.03 mm, respectively were also observed during these months. From the histological observation of the ovary, seven different stages of occytes were identified where highest percentage of mature oocytes was observed in July and January. Based on the GSI, fecundity, and gonadal histology, two breeding season of A. jaya was observed from May to August and from December to late January with a remarkable peak in July and January. In case of length weight relationship (LWR), the coefficient of determination value (r2) was found 0.95 and slope was found b= 2.02 which indicated the negative allometric growth pattern of this species as b<3. In contrast, an increase was recorded in the fecundity associated with the rise of total length, body weight, and gonad weight, showed a significant linear relationship. This study would assist in the development of induced breeding techniques and provide valuable information for the sustainable management of this population in the inland open ecosystem.