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Length-weight relationship and condition factor of cichlid, Sarotherodon galilaeus, in the freshwater ecotype of Ogun estuary, Ogun State, Nigeria
Abstract
A study was carried out on the length-weight relationship and condition factor of Sarotherodon. galilaeus in the freshwater ecotype of Ogun estuary, Ogun State, Nigeria, between September 2006 and August 2008. One thousand six hundred and thirty-eight fish samples were collected and analysed. The sample class ranged from 22 – 33 cm total length (TL) (250.0 - 814.0 g total body weight). Mean monthly size was between 23.90±0.15 cm TL (287.85±37.85 g) in August and 29.31±0.74 cm TL (538.08±8.57 g) in January. The values of exponent ‘b’ and ‘a’ of the length-weight relationship were 2.755 (r2=0.943) and 0.0137 respectively. Value of exponent ‘b’ was significantly different from 3 (P<0.05) signifying a negative allometric growth pattern. Mean condition factors estimated ranged from 1.943±0.24 g/cm3 in April – 2.850±0.076 g/cm3 in November (annual mean of 2.388±0.1076 g/cm3). The condition factor was found not to be size dependent, ranged from 2.049 – 2.510 g/cm3.
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Keywords: Length-weight relationship, Sarotherodon galilaeus, Ogun estuary, growth pattern, condition factor.
