**2.1 Husbandry of the broodstock**

The broodstock of the African catfish, *C. gariepinus* were obtained from reliable farms in Ile-Ife and Ibadan, Nigeria and were transported in 25 litre tank opened at the top to the Wet Laboratory of the Department of Animal Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. The matured male and female broodstock were kept at constant temperature of 270C in a 1000 litre tank connected to a source of water by a pipe connected from the reservoir plastic tank placed in an elevated stand in the laboratory and its drainage was located at the bottom of the tank for easy flow by gravity.

The broodstock were fed with an imported floating palletized feed *i.e., CoppensR* feed (42% protein, ISO -170 certified, Netherlands) containing a large percentage of high quality fish meal, which is especially important to facilitate repeated spawning at a maintenance level of 1.5% body weight on a daily basis by gradual hand broadcast. The water quality was regulated through proper monitoring and replaced weekly.
