Finfish Breeding and Hatchery Management

Unit 2 - Sexual maturity, breeding season and development of gametes

2.2. Breeding season

• The cultivated carps (with the exception of common carp) attain maturity at the end of second year or the beginning of third year, depending upon the temperature.
• They mature during May-June and some are found to remain mature till the end of August.
• Majority of the major carps breed during south-west monsoon, in flooded rivers.
• The common carp attains maturity at 4-6 months of age and breed year-round in captivity.
• Like the common carp, tilapia matures at 4-5 months and spawns through out the year.
• Medium carps, catfishes, murrels, etc. mature during pre-monsoon and with the onset of South-West monsoon and breed in ponds, tanks, paddy fields, etc.
• Brackish-water and marine fishes attain maturity during pre-monsoon and with the onset of South-West monsoon and have prolonged breeding season.
• Gonadotropins regulate the formation and maturation of gametes indirectly through steroid hormones produced by gonad itself.
• Maturation has various stages and different sex steroids are involved at each stage, but gonadotropins influence the production of all of them.