Tambaqui females (Colossoma macropomum) spawn after hormonal induction with buserelin acetate

•Buserelin acetate induces the reproduction of tambaqui females.•Buserelin acetate can replace carp pituitary extract in the reproduction of tambaqui.•The reproduction of tambaqui with buserelin acetate maintains the quality of oocytes. The aim of this study was to evaluate induced reproduction in tambaqui females using buserelin acetate as compared with the traditional treatment regimen with carp pituitary extract (CPE). Reproductive traits of females with a body weight (BW) of 8.47 ± 1.52 kg were evaluated in ten females treated with buserelin acetate at the dose of 0.5 mL/kg BW, in a single application, and in ten females treated with CPE at the dose of 5.5 mg/kg BW, in two applications (10 % and 90 %, with a 12-h interval between applications). Spawning rate did not differ between the females treated with buserelin acetate (40 %) and CPE (40 %). Weight, fertilization rate and hatching rate did not differ between the two treatment groups. Degree-hours (determined as the average temperature multiplied by time, in hours, for spawning after the treatment with the second dose of CPE and after the single treatment with buserelin acetate) for spawning and number of oocytes per gram of gametes collected were greater (P