The reproductive characters provide information about the gonad maturity of eel. The prepubertal stage occurs in the yellow eel, and the pubertal stage achieves in the silver eel. This study aimed to evaluate the reproductive characters of tropical eel, Anguila bicolor McClelland in the different developmental stages. Eels with 33–81 cm ±13.54 long and weigh of 98–1062 g ±262.99 were used to determine their reproductive characters. The variables observed were total length, body weight, GSI, Eye Index and Oestradiol levels. The results showed that total length, body weight, and GSI of silver eel were the highest (P < 0.01). These were 66.09 cm ±9.34, 556.83 g ±236.24, and 2.12% ±1.88, respectively. The Eye Index and plasma oestradiol level of yellow eel, pre-silver, and silver eel were similar (P > 0.05). It was concluded that total length, body weight, and GSI of tropical eel  A. bicolor were the most important reproductive characters to determine the gonad maturity.

Farida Nur Rachmawati

Yulia Sistina