Onyia L.U.^1,, Jibril M.T.¹, Jegede I.O.², Duwal S.D.²

Backcrossing of Albino hybrid and parents Clarias gariepinus was conducted in the fish hatchery of Department of Fisheries, Teaching and Research farm, Modibbo Adama University of Technology Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria, to study the reproductive and growth performance with the aim of determining the best in fertilization, hatchability, percentage survival and growth performance. Two pairs of brooders ♂NN + ♀NAlb and ♀NN + ♂NAlb were crossed. The results from the genetic cross ♂NAlb x ♀NAlb showed low performance in fertilization (75%), hatchability (61%) and survival (55%) while the highest was recorded in cross between ♂NN x ♀NN (95%, 82%, and 85%) respectively. The backcrossed ♂NAlb x ♀ NN), and reciprocal backcrossed ♂NN x ♀NAlb offspring reflected relatively intermediate fertilization (89% and 79%), hatchability (80% and 73%) and survival. (75% and 70%). However highest growth performance was recorded in backcross offspring (♂NAlb x ♀ NN) with final weight (57.100±1.5099), Weight gain (56.530±1.4430), Daily weight gain (1.009±0.0258), Length gain (4.5567±0.0173), Daily length gain (0.0814±0.0003) SGR(%/day) (3.58) and K factor (1.3) respectively. While high survival was found in parental cross (♂NN x ♀NN). It was concluded that crossing the albino hybrids gave low growth performance while backcrossing with the female parent gave good growth performance. It is therefore recommended that breeding albino should be between parents and offspring to obtain better growth performance.

backcross, albino hybrid, pigmented, growth, Clarias gariepinus