Rerproductice biology of three important indigenous small fish viz., mola ( INDIGENOUS SMALL FISH VIZ., MOLA (Amblypharyngodon mola), Chela (Chela cachius) and punti (Puntius sophore)

Reproductive biology of three important small indigenous fish species mola (Amblypharyngodon mola), punti (Puntius sophore) and chela (Chela cachius) was studied for 12 months from January to December, 1999 in the Department of Fisheries Management, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. Gonadosomatic index (GSI) and ova diameter were analysed to determine their reproductive cycle. Three hundred sixty female and one hundred forty four male samples of each species of fish, mola (Amblypharyngodon mola), punti (Puntius sophore) and chela (Chela cachius) were examined in this study. The GSI values for female mola, punti and chela ranged from 1.78±0.88 to 17.06±2.66, 1.16±0.64 to 24.81±1.50 and 1.34±0.64 to 10.19±2.17, respectively. The highest values of the GSI in mola and punti were obtained during July while that of chela, during June. The results of monthly observations on the ova diameter indicated that mola, punti and chela spawned at least twice a year, once during May-July and again during September-October.