BIOLOGY REPRODUCTION OF SNAKEHEAD FISH (Channa sp.) AT PELUS RIVER BANYUMAS REGENCY

Abstract

The Pelus River is one of several rivers in Banyumas Regency. The Pelus River is 20 km long
and flows into the Klawing River in the Sokaraja area. Snakehead fish is an endemic fish from
Asia, which belongs to the Channidae family of fish that has high economic value. Fish biology
studies can be one of the basic references during the fish domestication process. This research
method is a survey with a purposive random sampling technique. There are three research
stations: upstream, middle, and downstream. At the research station there are three sampling
points. The results of this study on the sex ratio are 1:1.9 which indicates an abnormal
comparison in the Pelus River. In the aspect of fish reproductive biology, the HSI value of
Snakehead Fish (Channa sp.) ranges from 0.76 - 1.04%, this HSI value is still relatively low
because it is still below 2%. The GSI value of Snakehead Fish (Channa sp.) ranges from 0.23%
to 0.38%. The GSI value is still below the standard gonad maturity of 4% for fish ready to
spawn. The VSI value of the Snakehead Fish (Channa sp.) ranges from 3.45% - 3.57%,
meaning that the VSI value is still in a condition towards the level of gonad maturity for
spawning. The HSI, GSI, and VSI values are below normal for fish, this is because at the time
of sampling the Snakehead fish had finished at the peak of fish spawning. The peak spawning
of Snakehead fish occurs from December to April. The water quality of the Pelus River is still
in good condition for fish life and towards the spawning of Snakehead Fish (Channa sp.).