Effects of parental age on offspring growth and survival in both wild and domesticated strains of bighead catfish (Clarias macrocephalus Günther, 1864)

Understanding the relationship between fish parental age and offspring performance over their life cycle is crucial for aquaculturists. This study investigates the effect of parental age for both 1- and 2-year-old fish on the growth and survival rates of their larval to grow-out stages for two wild and domesticated strains of bighead catfish (Clarias macrocephalus). Fish were sampled from the Vietnamese Mekong Delta where wild adult fish were collected from a conservation area in Ca Mau Province and domesticated fish were taken from a hatchery in Can Tho. Four offspring treatments of 1- and 2-year-old broodstock strains were reared for 3 successive periods: 40 days for fingerling rearing in static tanks with water exchange, 60 days for juveniles, and 90 days for grow-out in recirculating systems. The final weight of fish at 190 days varied from 96.7 to 144.7 g. The growth of offspring was not affected by parental age (P > 0.05), over the 3 rearing periods. However, the domesticated fish strain showed significantly better growth rates than the wild fish strain (P < 0.05). Feed conversion ratios were comparable across fish treatments. Survival rates did not differ at the fingerling (21.8%–36.4%) and juvenile (69.0%–73.3%) stages. However, significant differences were found at the grow-out stage (69.3%–84.0%), with offspring from 2-year-old parents of both strains having greater survival rates. Overall, 1- and 2-year-old fish appear to be suitable for bighead catfish breeders.