Abstract:
Devario pathirana is an endemic fish species Sri Lanka that has been categorized under critically endangered and highly threatened species in IUCN red list 2012. Its population is depleting due to habitat degradation and pollution. Captive breeding programs should be carried out for the conservation of such species. Hormone induced breeding is more effective way to have higher yield of offsprings. Ovaprim induced breeding procedure was carried out to determine the suitable dose of Ovaprim to induce D. pathirana for breeding. Dosages of 0.5 ml, 0.45 ml, 0.4 ml, 0.35 ml and 0.3 ml per 1 kg of body weight of fish were used for the feniale fish and half of those doses were used to induce respective male fish. Most of the brooders started chasing within less than 10 hours, but did not spawn and were died. It was identified that the range of Ovaprim dose, injection site of the fish and hormone application method used were not suitable to induce D. pathirana for breeding. Better results may be able to produce using different procedure or methodology for breeding.
Key words: Endemic, Endangered, Egg Maturity, Response Time, Fecundity, Fertilization Rate
