Fecundity and Condition Factor of Clarias anguillaris of Oguta Lake, Nigeria

Abstract

Fecundity and condition factor of Clarias angullaris were studied in Oguta Lake for eight weeks. Forty species of C. anguillaris were studied. The length-weight relationship, fecundity, condition factor and gonad-osomatic indices were factors employed for assessment of health status of the fish. The mean length and weight of the C. anguillaris collected were 27.46 ± 1.47 (12.00-38.50) cm and 391.26 ± 17.92 (144.60-553.40) g respectively. Some of the morphometrics manifested linkage and C. anguillaris exhibited a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.008, and Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) of -0.091. Fecundity-weight relationship of C. anguillaris was also not significant (p=0.062) with a Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) of -0.357 and coefficient of determination (R 2 )=0.127. The variations in condition factor of C. anguliaris at Oguta Lake was 19.96% (R 2 =0.1996) and this was explained by the variations in GSI. Clarias anguillaris from the Oguta Lake showed negative allometric growth pattern which implied that the fish species is increasing in length faster than its weight. This could be as a result of the polluted nature of the Lake, shortage of food supply, diseases which might have altered the fish speciation.