Length-Weight Relationship, Condition Factor and Gut Content of Chrysichthys Furcatus Gunther, 1864 (Bagridae) from Cross River at Ahaha

Abstract

The study aimed to estimate the length weight relationship, condition factor and gut content of Chrysichthys furcatus a commercial important food fish in Obubra, central Cross River State. Monthly samples were collected for six month between May to October 2014. During the period a total of 187 specimens comprising of 125 females and 62 males were collected. The length -weight frequency distribution shows a total length ranged of 16 cm-60 cm and weight 50 g-549 g. The female fish have the highest length and weight frequency distribution except at weight ranged of 50 g-99 g where the males were more. Both sexes exhibited negative allometric growth pattern with an increased in length resulting to increase in weight of the fish. The condition factor (k) decreased with increased in the size of fish, why July and August recorded the least monthly condition factor. About 102 (54.55%) stomachs had some degree of food items in their guts with medium size specimens having the highest number of stomachs with some degree of food than small and large respectively. A total of 7 major categories with 27 food items comprising of animals, plants and detritus materials were identified. The sum total of 3,486 prey item with Cyclops (531) 15.24% constituting the most encountered while coleopteran (10) 0.29% was the least encountered prey. The most occurred prey item was detritus (100%) and Cyclops (98.12%) while the least coleopterans 3.67% with sand grains (11.44%) constituting the bulks of the gut content. The index of relative importance (IRI) reveals that Cyclops (1736.72), keretela (1394.82), tublex (1251.06), crustacean (1238.33) and crustacean eggs (1238.33) were the important and preferred prey item in the guts of C. furcatus. The ability of fish to capitalize on any available food items in the environment (euryphagous) is an important characteristic of culturable fish species. This implies that C. furcatus have brighter prospects for culture in ponds and proper species management and sustainability.

Length-weight relationship and condition factor of Hydrocynus forskahlii (Cuvier, 1819) in River Yobe, Northeast, Nigeria

“…But the disparity in the "k" is likened to the environmental condition (Gupta and Banerjee, 2015), water temperature fluctuation (Bolarinwa and Popoola, 2013), breeding season (Abujam and Biswas, 2016), habitat and feeding habit (Nandikeswari et al, 2014), spawning season and gonadal development (Henderson, 2005;Obasohan et al, 2012). Irom et al (2017) stated that "k" value is affected by both biotic and abiotic factors which include food availability, feeding pattern/regime and gonad development. This assumption was confirmed by Abowei and Hart (2009) and Lizama et al (2002) that gonad development negatively affects the "k" value due to the transfer of energy to the gonads.…”

Assessment of length-weight relationship and condition factor of Synodontics omias (Cuvier, 1816) in River Komadougou, Northeast, Nigeria

“…But the disparity in the "k" is likened to the environmental condition (Ratnakala et al, 2013;Sarkar et al, 2013), fluctuation of water temperature (Bolarinwa and Popoola, 2013), breeding season (Abujam and Biswas, 2016), habitat and feeding habit (Nandikeswari et al, 2014), spawning season and gonadal development (Henderson, 2005;Obasohan et al, 2012). Irom et al (2017) stated that "k" values are affected by both biotic and abiotic factors which include food availability, feeding pattern/regime and gonad development. This assumption was confirmed by Abowei (2010) and Lizama et al (2002) that gonads development negatively affects the "k" value due to the transfer of energy to the gonads.…”

Analysis of Food Items and Diet Preference in the Stomach of Synodontis obesus (Boulenger, 1898: Siluriformes, Mochokidae) in the Lower Cross River, Nigeria

“…Various studies had been conducted on feeding regimes, food preferences, diet of the species [5][6][7]. "Studies of the food and feeding habit are useful in determining the population level since the number of individuals in the population depends on the amount of food available" [8]. "The gut content analysis gives information on seasonal and life history changes of the fish because the types and magnitude of food available as well as the season it occurs plays an important role in the life history of the fish" [8,9].…”

“…"Studies of the food and feeding habit are useful in determining the population level since the number of individuals in the population depends on the amount of food available" [8]. "The gut content analysis gives information on seasonal and life history changes of the fish because the types and magnitude of food available as well as the season it occurs plays an important role in the life history of the fish" [8,9]. "Besides, food availability is one of the critical factors that influenced the survival of fish and it is the basis of the development of a successful capture and culture fisheries management" [10].…”