Induced Spawning in Captive White Sucker,Catostomus commersoni,and Spotted Sucker,Minytrema melanops

ABSTRACT

White sucker, Catostomus commersoni, and spotted sucker, Minytrema melanops, maintained in earthen ponds from 9 to 12 months, were induced to spawn with injections of human cho-rionic gonadotropin (hCG) at the rate of 1,000 IU/kg for 3 to 5 days. White sucker, captured in Wisconsin and held in ponds in Arkansas, spawned at 16.7°C and 33 days earlier than white sucker in natural streams in Wisconsin during 1993. Spotted sucker, captured in Arkansas, were induced to spawn at 18.1^CC during the same time as those in natural Arkansas streams. Being able to spawn captive white sucker and spotted sucker will relieve culturists of the need to continually obtain broodstock from wild sources during the spawning season.