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

摘要

The study aimed to estimate the length weight relationship, condition factor and gut content of Chrysichthysfurcatus a commercial important food fish in Obubra, central Cross River State. Monthly samples were collected forsix month between May to October 2014. During the period a total of 187 specimens comprising of 125 females and62 males were collected. The length - weight frequency distribution shows a total length ranged of 16 cm-60 cm andweight 50 g-549 g. The female fish have the highest length and weight frequency distribution except at weightranged of 50 g-99 g where the males were more. Both sexes exhibited negative allometric growth pattern with anincreased in length resulting to increase in weight of the fish. The condition factor (k) decreased with increased inthe size of fish, why July and August recorded the least monthly condition factor. About 102 (54.55%) stomachs hadsome degree of food items in their guts with medium size specimens having the highest number of stomachs withsome degree of food than small and large respectively. A total of 7 major categories with 27 food items comprising ofanimals, 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 occurredprey 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 andpreferred prey item in the guts of C. furcatus. The ability of fish to capitalize on any available food items in theenvironment (euryphagous) is an important characteristic of culturable fish species. This implies that C. furcatushave brighter prospects for culture in ponds and proper species management and sustainability.Keywords: Chrysichthys