Breeding Clarias gariepinus

Breeding guide for Clarias gariepinus, the African sharptooth catfish: a fast-growing aquaculture food fish that spawns in flooded shallows, far too large for home aquaria.

Overview

Clarias gariepinus, the African sharptooth catfish, is a very large clariid native throughout Africa and the Middle East and introduced to several other regions since the early 1980s. It reaches up to 1.7 m and 60 kg. It is a major aquaculture food fish, valued for fast growth, tolerance of poor water and high stocking densities. According to Wikipedia, it matures relatively easily and reproduces in captivity, naturally reproducing without requiring hormone treatment, which is part of why it is favoured for aquaculture.

Conditioning

Reproduction is tied to flooding. Spawning mostly takes place at night in the shallow, inundated areas of rivers, lakes and streams. Rising, warm water and access to newly flooded shallows are the natural conditioning triggers; because the species spawns readily, hormone induction is not required.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

Before courtship, males engage in highly aggressive encounters. During mating the male lies in a U-shape curved around the head of the female, a position held for several seconds. Eggs and milt are released, after which the female's tail movement distributes the eggs broadly over the spawning site. Pairs rest between mating cycles, ranging from seconds to several minutes.

Egg & Fry Care

Development of the eggs and larvae is rapid: the larvae are capable of swimming within 48 to 72 hours after fertilization. No parental care is provided beyond selection of the spawning site.

Common Challenges

Home reproduction is not a realistic goal because of the fish's enormous adult size and aggression. Reliable reproduction occurs in aquaculture facilities and natural flooded habitats rather than in aquariums.