Evaluation of growth and gonadosomatic index of wild and cultured African mud catfish (Clarias gariepinus Burchell, 1822), from water bodies around Sokoto metropolis

Abstract

This research was carried out in Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, to establish the growth patterns, condition factor and reproductive indices based on the ecotypes of three different population groups of Clarias gariepinus. Ninety (90) samples of 30 fish each were collected from, River Rima (wild), Premier farm and Magatakada farm, all within Sokoto metropolis. The results revealed significant (P<0.05) differences in the K-factor between cultured C. gariepinus and its wild conspecifics from river Rima. The Gonadosomatic index of the CSPF population group, with (5.965±0.95) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than those of the WSRR and CSMF population groups, with (3.37±1.02) and (3.10±0.85) respectively. The research drew a conclusion that, the difference in the population groups reflects superiority of the CSPF population group and attributed this to crosses that have occurred between the wild and the CSPF population groups over the years, as later discovered by this research. Therefore, it was recommended that a deeper investigation should be carried out into the possible growth potential, heterosis, vitality and vigor of the crosses between the two ecotypes and also on how to harness the wild conserved gene pool of these attributes for the improvement of the current aquaculture stock.