LENGTH-WEIGHT RELATIONSHIP AND CONDITION FACTOR OF CLARIAS GARIEPINUS (BURCHELL, 1822) IN JIBIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KATSINA STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

Study of Length-weight relationship is a vital fishery management instrument in assessing the average weight at a given length group and in evaluating the relative welfare and wellbeing of a fish populace. Study on length-weight relationship and condition factor of Clarias gariepinus from Ajiwa reservoir was conducted from March, 2021 to August, 2021 to determine the growth or development pattern of the species in Ajiwa reservoir. About 100 fish samples were collected from three sites for the periods of three 6 months. The fish samples were made up of 55 males and 45 females Length and weight of sampled fish were measured with standards methods. The lengthweight regression analysis indicated that the fish species exhibited negative allometric growth pattern with regression exponent b values of 2.86, 2.91 and 2.88 for males, females and combined sexes respectively and the correlation coefficient (r) values were 0.96 (males), 0.96 (females), and 0.95 (combined sexes), these shown strong positive relations concerning the fish weight and length. The average condition factor K for males, females and combined sexes documented is greater than 1 which is a pointer that the specie is in good condition in the reservoir. The current study shown that C.gariepinus in Jibia reservoir in Katsina State, Nigeria showed negative allometric growth pattern with a strong positive correlation between the total length and weight of the species. Also, the condition factors of entire sampledfish species were within the appropriate recommended range for gravid tropical freshwater fish species.