LENGTH-WEIGHT, INTESTINAL-BODY LENGTH RELATIONSHIP OF AFRICAN CATFISH ( Clarias gariepinus) AND (Malapterurus electricus) IN OROGODO RIVER, AGBOR, DELTA STATE.

ABSTRACT

The morphometric analysis of Clarias gariepius and Malapterurus electricus was carried out in Orogbodo Tiver, Delta state, Nigeria. A total of forty nine specimen of two species (Clarias gariepinus and Malapterurus electricus) across two families Clariidae and Malapteruridae were sampled over a period of six months, May to October, 2019. Specimens were transported to the laboratory and morphometric indices such as Total Length (TL), Standard Length (SL) and Body Weight (BW) were assessed using standard methods. The standard length and body weight of C. gariepinus ranged from 8.0-31.5 and 6.0-347 while, the standard length and body weight of M. electricus ranged from 6.0-17.8 and 3.0-108. The growth coefficient (b) was between 2.8037 and 3.1384 for C. gariepinus and M. electricus. Results shows that C. gariepinus exhibited negative allometric growth while, Malapterurus electricus exhibited positive allometric growth. The intestine length of C. gariepinus ranged from 4.5-26.0, while body length ranged from 8.0-31.5. In M. electricus the intestine length ranged from 8.5-27.0 while body length ranged from 6.0-17.8. Following standard gut length/standard length ratio for classification of fish feeding habit (<100 omnivore and >100 carnivore), C. gariepinus and M. electricus from Orogodo River can be classified as omnivore and carnivore having ratios of 75.74% and 137% respectively. Mean condition factor (K) values were greater than one for all species and varied monthly.