STUDIES ON SOME ASPECTS OF REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF ONE STRIPE SPINY EEL MACROGNATHUS ARAL (BLOCH AND SCHNEIDER, 1801) – AN IMPORTANT FRESHWATER ORNAMENTAL FISH

The current study presents fundamental information on the reproductive biology of Macrognathus aral (Bloch and Schneider, 1801). The comparative pattern of the reproductive biology dealing with sex ratio, maturation of gonads, gonadosomatic index ova-diameter and fecundity of freshwater one stripe spiny eel, Macrognathus aral were investigated. The overall M: F ratio was recorded as 1:1.65. Both male and female fishes were mostly mature in May-July. The peak value of gonadosomatic index in female was observed in June (13.94) and in male during July (1.44) indicating that the fish is an annual breeder. The range of ova diameter varied from 0.34-1.38 mm; absolute fecundity ranged from 372.4 - 5781.4. The 50% maturity is attained in length group of 191 – 210 mm for males and 231 – 250 mm for females. The relationship between fecundity and body weight and length has also been discussed.