Table 1. Characteristics of gonad maturity stage of female and male fish

Stage	Female	Male
I. Immature or rest	Ovaries are very small, translucent, string shaped. Eggs are invisible to the naked eye	Testes are very small, translucent, string shaped
II. Developing	Ovaries increase in size, opaque, orange color. Eggs are invisible to the naked eye	Testes increase in size, opaque, creamy white in color
III. Ripe	Ovaries are large, opaque, yellow to orange in color. Eggs are visible to the naked eye, round shaped and translucent	Testes are large, white in color
IV. Spawning	Ovaries are larger and release eggs when pressed. Eggs are visible, large and round shaped, yellow in color, free in ovaries	Testes become larger, white in color and release sperm with little pressure
V. Spent	Ovaries shrinking and flabby. Some residual eggs are visible	Testes become smaller and flabby, small quantity of residual sperm release when pressed