Length - Weight Relationship and Condition Factor of Clarias gariepinus from Igbokoda, Ondo State, Nigeria

The length-weight relationship and condition factor of Clarias gariepinus sampled from Alape River, Igbokoda, Ondo State, Nigeria were determined. A total of 120 C. gariepinus catfish were procured from local fish farmers for this research work. This consisted of 90 males and 30 females. The length-weight regression analysis showed that the „b‟ values of 2.625 and 2.764, exhibited negative allometric growth in males and females respectively. The significant linear relationships „r‟ of 0.945 and 0.919 were recorded in both males and females. The condition (K) factor ranged between 0.567 and 0.644 in the two sexes. The „K‟ values recorded which were lesser than 1 in this work showed that the male and female C. gariepinus from Alape River were not in a stable condition. The factors responsible for the condition of the river may be largely due to means of transportation on the water and other human activities.

Keywords: Length, Weight, Condition Factor, Allometric Growth, Clarias gariepinus.