Journal of Advances in Biology & Biotechnology

The aim of this study is to increase the motility and ability of catfish sperm to fertilize the eggs of the Mutiara catfish using an artificial fertilization solution containing NaCl, CaCl₂ and KCl electrolytes. Mutiara catfish strain was created from a hybrid cross between four strains (paiton, sangkuriang, dumbo and mesir) as a genetic improvement for the catfish reproductive success in Indonesia. The research design used Completely Randomized Design with six artificial fertilization solutions used as test treatments including solution A (2.5 mmol/L NaCl, 5 mmol/L CaCl₂, 0.25 mmol/L KCl), solution B (4 mmol/L NaCl, 7.5 mmol/L CaCl₂, 0.50 mmol/L KCl), solution C (5.50 mmol/L NaCl, 10 mmol/L CaCl₂, 0.75 mmol/L KCl), solution D ((7 mmol/L NaCl, 12.5 mmol/L CaCl₂, 1 mmol/L  KCl), solution E (8.5 mmol/L NaCl, 15 mmol/L CaCl₂, 1.25 mmol/L KCl) and solution F (aquabidest as control). Replication as much four times (n = 4). The research parameters used were motility tests, motility duration, degree of fertilization and hatching of mutiara catfish eggs.  The results of the study showed that a solution with a composition of 7 mmol/L NaCl, 12.5 mmol/L CaCl₂, and 1 mmol/L KCl (treatment D) induced sperm motility of 83% with a duration of 180 seconds (3 minutes), a fertilization rate of 78.25% and egg hatching of 75%. Furthermore, the results of this study can be used to improve artificial reproduction, especially optimizing the degree of fertilization and hatching of catfish eggs for mass production of larvae to support food security programs.