The Length-Weight Relationship (LWR), Condition factor (K) and feeding habits of Synodontis clarias (Linnaeus, 1758) were investigated over a 24 month period from January, 2009 - December, 2010. A total number of 163 specimens comprising of 74 females and 89 males with the size range of 7.60 – 20.00cm and the mean of 12.72± 0.258cm were investigated. The weight ranged from 13.12 – 607.30g with the mean of 65.83± 0.897g. The LWRs for the females, males and combined sexes had the r values of 0. 8415, 0.9463 and 0.8703 respectively. The mean condition factor K was 3.3667, 2.6868 and 2.9954 for the females, males and combined sexes respectively. The regression coefficient b was 1.9408, 1.8799 and 2.1359 for the females, males and combined sexes respectively indicating negative allometric growth pattern for the species. Out of the 163 stomachs examined for food items, 88 (53.99%) were empty while 75 (46.01%) contained a wide range and varying quantities of food items indicating that S.clarias in River Benue is omnivorous.

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Brewer’s waste is one of the promising carbohydrate and protein source by-products for fish diets. A 10-wk feeding trial experiment involving 10 different diets (10 diets for Spent millet, from locally fermented drink (Burukutu) with increasing levels of brewer’s waste (40% crude protein) was carried out to evaluate the use of spent millet, from Burukutu production in Clarias gariepinus diets in place of normal Corn. Growth performance was compared against a control diet formulated to have similar composition to a typical commercial diet. 10 experimental diets replaced successively 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100% of the Corn carbohydrate with Spent millet from locally fermented drink, Burukutu.. The diets were isonitrogenous and isocaloric. A relatively good growth performance and nutrient utilization by Clarias gariepinus fed the test diets were observed. However, the results showed significant difference (p<0.05) in weight gain, SGR, FCR and RGR between treatments, with the control performing best. The result also showed that survival rate was high in all the treatment which indicate that, spent millet from burukutu production has no adverse effect on the experimented fish. Based on this research, it wasconcluded that 50% of the corn carbohydrate in a typicalcommercial diet could be replaced with spent grain (millet) from locally fermented drink (BKT) withno adverse effect on growth and feed utilization for Clarias gariepinus.

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The growth parameters and mortalities of five species of Synodontis in the lower river Benue at Makurdi, Benue State were studied from January,2016 to December, 2018. The asymptotic length (L∞) calculated for the five species ranged from 18.80cm in S.clarias females to 37.04cm in S.membranaceus females. The t0 values were all negative in the combined sexes of S.clarias, S.omias, S.gambiensis and S.membranaceus. In both combined sexes of S.membranaceus and S.schall, the t0 values were positive. The growth rate (K) was low in S.clarias and S.omias (0.301- 0.497, 0.171 - 0.310) respectively and higher in S.membranaceus (0.310 - 0.640), S.schall females (0.430 - 0.580); S.schall males (0.573),S.gambiensis (0.500 - 0.571). Growth performance index (Ø’) was 2.212 in S.gambiensis and 2.946 in S.schall combined. Natural Mortality (M) ranged from 0.5422 in S.omias females to 1.3340 in S.membranaceus males. Fishing Mortality (F) was 0.8214 in S.omias combined and 3.0934 in S.membranaceus females. Total mortality (Z) ranged from 1.52 in S.omias combined to 4.078 in S.membranaceus combined. Mean Exploitation (E) ratios was 0.61 in S.clarias, 0.64 in S.omias, 0.53 in S.gambiences, 0.70 in S.membranaceus, and 0.66 in S.schall. The rate at which these species survived in the River was low (from 0.147, in S.omias combined, to 1.482 in S.membranaceus combined).