Induced breeding and larval rearing of snow trout (Schizothorax niger Heckel) in Kashmir Himalaya with the application of ovatide

Induced breeding was carried out successfully in Schizothorax niger with the application of synthetic hormone, ovatide. This is the first report of induced breeding of snow trout from Kashmir waters, India through use of any hormone preparation. The male and female brooders were injected with calculated doses of ovatide at the rate of 0.5 ml kg-1 body weight of female brooders and 0.3 ml kg-1 body weight of male respectively. The brooders responded well to the hormone and spawned within the breeding pool. A fertilization rate of 85% was achieved. Hatchability rate was around 65%. The juveniles were initially fed with skimmed milk powder and emulsified hen egg yolk in the ratio of 1:1, supplemented later with live zooplankton. On rearing, the fry attained a size of 25 mm and average body weight of 130 mg during a period of 90 days with a cumulative survival rate of 60% from fertilized eggs to swim up fry.