Reproduction of Celebes rainbowfish, Marosatherina ladigesi Ahl, 1936 in Pattunuang and Batu Puteh Rivers, South Sulawesi

Abstract

Marosatherina ladigesi is one of endemic fishes in South Sulawesi and also as ornamental fish. Anthropogenic activities such as destructive fishing and degradation caused by the dredging of sand carried M. ladigesi to the red list of threatened IUCN category as vulnerable species. Accordingly, conservation efforts are needed to maintenance fish population in its habitat. The biologic information for conservation is reproduction of fishes. This research aimed to described reproduction of Celebes rainbow fish including sex ratio, gonad maturity, gonado-somatic index, fecundity, and distribution of egg diameter in Pattunuang and Batu Puteh Rivers, South Sulawesi. This research was conducted from May 2018 to April 2019. The result showed that the sex ratio in Pattunuang and Batu Puteh rivers were 1,00:1,60 and 1,00:1,08, respectively. This species spawned from the end of dry season to the early rainy season. Fecundity of fish in Pattunuang and Batu Puteh rivers were 22-795 eggs and 69-571 eggs, respectively. Based on distribution of egg diameter, Celebes rainbowfish categorized as total spawner. For the conservation of this species is recommended to catch restrictions in the spawning season and for male fish, and needs to be proposed the conservation in situ to determine both of rivers as reservoir area because these habitats are a source of germplasm.