Study on biometry, length-weight relationships and condition factors of 139 fishes covering 11 families and 16 species inhabiting Iwopin fresh water ecotype of Lekki Lagoon, were provided. The fish species were obtained from the major landing sites of Iwopin from July to September, 2017. As a result, Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus was the most abundant while Polypterus senegalus, Sphyraena barracuda and Dagetichthys lakdoensis constituted the least groups of populations. The Fulton condition factor (K) values significantly (P < 0.001) ranged between 0.80 and 1.28 while b values varied from 1.067 to 3.41. The values of b indicated negative and positive allometric growth patterns. The highest mean total length value (33.2 AE 1.55) cm was found in Papyrocranus afer while the least mean total length value (7.9 AE 0.60) cm was found in Sarotherodon galilaeus. S. barracuda had the highest mean weight value (187.0 AE 72.9) g while S. galilaeus had the least mean weight value.

No abstract

In this study accumulation of some heavy metals Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Cobalt (Co), Nickel (Ni) and Lead (Pb) in the operculum, gills, heart, kidney, muscle and vertebrae were determined in some fishes (Hydrocynus forskahlii, Hyperopisus bebe occidentalis and Clarias gariepinus) collected from fishermen around Ogun estuary. The accumulation of the metals in different organs showed significant differences (P<0.05) except lead accumulation. However, the bioaccumulation of the heavy metals was species-related as the accumulations of the heavy metals analysed in the sampled fishes were of the following trend: H. forskahlii > H. bebe occidentalis > C. gariepinus and the pattern of distribution was Ni > Cr > Co > Cd > Pb for all the fish species. The levels of Ni and Cr in this study were higher than the maximum permissible limits (FAO, UNEP, FEPA and WHO) for human consumption and that of Cd, Pb and Co were still lower. Safe disposals of domestic sewage and industrial effluents as well as enforcement of laws enacted to protect our environment are therefore advocated.

The hatchery facilities of a reputable fish farm in Abeokuta were used to carry out studies on the effects of different diets on the survival of African catfish Clarias gariepinus hatchlings. The larvae (1.8mg each) were distributed into the twelve feeding experiment apartments (1.7 m × 0.7 m x 0.5 m each) at 1,500 lavae/apartment. On the fourth day, feeding commenced with the experimental diets. The diets were fish meal (Danish) of 72% Crude Protein; baker's yeast (VAHINE); compounded feed (50% Crude Protein) and hen egg yolk. Each treatment was replicated thrice and feed fed to the larvae at 30% body weight twice daily for 30 days. All the experimental diets had no significant effects on the growth of the larvae to fingerling at P > 0.05. The mean fingerlings final weight (mg) was 1523.2 ±295, 1700.8 ± 686, 367.9 ± 118 and 1675.9 ± 1167 for fish meal, yeast, compounded feed and hen egg yolk respectively. The specific and relative growth rates of the larvae under all the treatments were also not significant (P > 0.05). Considering the growth parameters, the best performance was observed in fish fed diet 2 (yeast), closely followed by diet 4 (hen egg yolk), then diet 1 (fish meal) and least in fish fed diet 3 (compounded feed). The low survival rate observed in all the diets, Compounded feed (10%) > hen egg yolk (4.1%) > Fish meal(3.5%) > yeast(1.7%) could be attributed to the lack of sorting exercise carried out in the experiment.

The effect of palm oil-supplemented diet on plasma lipid profile of Wistar albino rats was investigated by feeding the experimental animals with 20% palm oil-supplemented diets for 12 weeks. The plasma levels of Total cholesterol (TC), Triglycerides (TG), Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and High-density lipoprotein (HDL) were determined at 4-, 8-, and 12-week intervals. The results showed significant (p<0.05) increases in TC (from 2.44+0.44 to 3.41+0.41), TG (from 1.72+0.51 to 2.46+0.19), and LDL (from 0.87+0.21 to 1.33+0.30) at the 4 th week. However, the level of HDL (0.97+0.06) did not show significant difference from control value (0.87+0.21). The TC/HDL ratio increased non-significantly from 3.12+0.29 to 3.55+0.29. At the 12 th week, significant decreases (p<0.05) were observed for TC (1.50+0.08), LDL (0.28+0.06), while no significant difference was noted for TG and HDL. The TC/HDL ratio decreased significantly (p<0.05) to 2.56+0.13. Analysis of organ weights showed significant (p<0.05) increase for lungs and liver while no significant differences were noted for heart and kidneys at the 12 th week of feeding the diets. The findings of the present study suggest that palm oil may be beneficial as its intake produces decreases in TC/HDL, a useful index for possible cardiovascular problems in individuals.

No abstract

The food and feeding habits of eight (8) fish species Elops lacerta, Chrysichthys auratus, Schilbe mys-tus, Sardinella maderensis, Synodontis schall, Hepsetus odoe, Tilapia zillii and Mugil cephalus in Ogun estuary, Ogun State, Nigeria were studied and estimated for six months, between February and July, 2014. A total of 470 fishes were randomly collected from the commercial fishermen during the study. Results from the stomach contents analysed using frequency of occurrence and numerical methods showed that S. mystus, E. lacerta, S. maderensis, H. odoe, S. schall, T. zillii, M. cephalus and C. auratus were predators, piscivores, herbivores, piscivores, omnivores, herbivores, herbivores and omnivores respectively while H. odoe and S.mystus partly fed on E. lacerta and T. zillii respec-tively. The Diet Breadth (D) ranged from 0.76 to 0.88 and the percentage Gut Repletion Index (GRI), a reflection of frequency of feeding, ranged between 60-100%.

A feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of fermented pineapple peel meal (FPM) on Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings. One hundred and eighty (180) fingerlings of Nile tilapia (1.35±0.13g) were stocked and fed at 5% body weight per day for 56 days. Four iso-nitrogenous diets containing 35% crude protein in which corn meal was replaced by fermented pineapple peel meal at 0% (FPM0), 25% (FPM25), 50% (FPM50) and 75% (FPM75) were formulated and prepared. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in growth, nutrient utilization, survival, protein digestibility and blood parameters between the fish fed the reference diet (FPM0) and fish fed diet FPM75. Weight gain (3.57g) was highest in fish fed diet FPM75 and lowest (2.18g) in fish fed diet FPM50. Feed conversion ratio was lowest (1.70) in fish fed diet FPM25 and highest (1.77) in fish fed diet FPM50 while protein efficiency ratio was highest in fish fed diets FPM0 (1.22) and lowest (I.03) in fish fed diet FPM50.Highest value of packed cell volume (36.33%) was in fish fed diet FPM25 while the lowest value (33.00%) was recorded in fish fed diet FPM75. From the above results therefore, yellow maize could be replaced with fermented pineapple peel meal at 75% level in the diet of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus without affecting fish growth, nutrient utilisation, protein digestibility and the blood profile.