Length-weight relationships and food and feeding habits of some characids (Osteichthyes: Characidae) from Anambra river, Nigeria

Abstract

The length-weight relationship of the commonly caught species of characids; Brycinus leuciscus, Hydrocynus vittatus, Alestes baremoze, and Brycinus macrolepidotus is provided in this study along with their percentage relative frequency of food groups. There were positive estimates for coefficient of correlation (r²) of length-weight relationship whereas the condition factor (K) values depict overall poor being of these species. The lower condition factor (K) range (0.693 – 1.688) was suggestive of poor ecological conditions due to heavy anthropogenic influence on the River. The feed spectrum showed that the four species consumed oligochaetes, detritus, rice bran, adult insects, larvae of insect, groundnut, maize, beans, bambara nut and cassava tuber.

Keywords: Characidae, Anambra River, Tropics, Food reserve, Ecosystem