REPRODUCTIVE CYCLE AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS IN MYSTUS VITTATUS (BLOCH)

Mystus vittatus (Bl.) is a freshwater catfish inhabiting the lentic habitats of Bangalore. The reproductive cycle of this fish has been studied in relation to the environmental factors. Females of the species attain first maturity at a minimum size of 85 mm. The stages of maturity and the cycle of maturation of ovaries indicate that this species spawns once annually between August and September. The reproductive biology of this fish is largely dependent on the climatic condition of water temperature, and photoperiod. The reproductive cycle of the fish varies in population collected from different regions of India and combination of the above climatic factors seems to regulate the spawning periodicity of the fish.