MEASUREMENT OF BARBEL, HEAD LENGTH, STANDARD LENGTH AND WEIGHT OF CATFISH (Clarias gariepinus) FROM EKPAN RIVER, DELTA STATE

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the meristic characteristics of African catfish Clarias gariepinus in Ekpan River and also to examine the relationship between the length and weight of the fish. A total of eight (18) fishes were bought from fishermen, measurement was done using weighing scale and meter rule. The total length nasal barbel length, maxillary barbel length and standard weight were also measured using a meter rule and the body weight of Clarias gariepinus was measured using a weighing scale. The length weight relationship was calculated using W = aL^b and the condition factor was calculated using. Simple percentage was used to get the result of the mean of each fish species. Result shows that the total length (TL) of Clarias gariepinus was 43.7 ± 3.42, the body weight was 1862.5 ± 114.15, the standard length (SL) was 40.9 ± 0.05, head length was 8 ± 0.52 nasal barbel length was 6.2 ± 0.26 maxillary barbell length was 13.2 ± 0.24 also some other body parameters were also evaluated. There was a negative allometric growth for all the fishes, when the growth co-efficient was calculated for Clarias gariepinus (2.734). The condition factor (k) has a value of 0.10 which indicates that the fish are not totally in a good condition. This could be due to unfavourable weather, water quality or feeding rate. The intercept (a) has the value of 5.64 and the coefficient relationship (r) of length-weight is given as 0.52. Therefore, the results obtained from this study suggest that there are no significant similarities in the morphological composition and co-efficient relationship of the Clarias gariepinus. There is a need to determine some factors favourable for the growth and development in subsequent studies in Ekpan River. Also, examination of fish wellbeing or condition factor needs to be studied to increase its spawning rate