Abstract only.

Clarias macrocephalus is endemic yet dwindling freshwater foodfish in the Philippines. Induced breeding protocol was developed by monitoring the size and maturation of eggs at 0-48 h after a simultaneous injection of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue (LHRHa; 0.0005 - 0.10 µg/g BW) and pimozide (PIM; 1 µg/g BW). Based on its similar osmotic pressure with catfish plasma, eggs were fixed in 1% phosphate-buffered formalin. Mean egg diameter of fish that were induced to mature increased during ovulation. Oocyte maturation, indicated by oocytes with germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), was observed at least 12 h post-injection in fish given 0.01 - 0.10 µg LHRHa + 1 µg PIM/g BW, followed by ovulation 4 h thereafter. Results showed that a simultaneous injection of C. macrocephalus with 0.05 µg LHRHa + 1 µg PIM/g BW at 1800-1900 h followed by stripping at 16-20 h post-injection resulted in high ovulation, fertilization and hatching rates.