Length-Weight Relationship and Condition Factor of Clarias anguillaris (Family: Claridae) in Kontagora Reservoir, Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

Length – weight relationship of Clarias anguillaris (Fam: Claridae) in Kontagora Reservoir, Niger State, Nigeria, was studied from January, 2007 - December, 2007. The fish species was obtained using a fleet of graded gill nets comprising of nine multi filament gill nets mesh sizes. The parameters a and b of the Length – weight relationship of the form W = aL^b and Condition factor C.F. = W 100 / L³ are presented for the fish species. The mean monthly condition factor values were high during the rainy season than the dry season, and the b value obtained was 3.477. The b value indicates positive allometric relationship, with the weight of the fish increasing as the fish grow in length. The high mean monthly condition factor of the fish species indicating their well being, shows that Kontagora Reservoir has favourable environment for the survival and growth of the species.

Keywords: Length – weight relationship, Condition factor, Clarias anguillaris, Kontagora Reservoir

Nigerian Journal of Basic and Applied Science (2011), 19(2): 299-303