Length-Weight Relationship And Condition Index Of The Red Belly Tilapia (Coptodon Zillii) In The Great Kwa River

Abstract

The Red Belly Tilapia (Coptodon zilli) is a widely distributed fish species in freshwater ecosystems, including the Great Kwa River in Nigeria. This study aimed to investigate the length-weight relationship and condition index of C. zilli in the Great Kwa River. The research involved data collection over a three-month period, from January to March 2023. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the length and weight measurements of C. zilli. The total length of the fish ranged from 2.4 cm to 20.5 cm, with mean values ranging from 8.77 cm to 9.51 cm. Similarly, the weight of the fish varied from 0.2 g to 67.0 g, with mean values ranging from 8.91 to 11.88 g. Regression analysis indicated a significant relationship between length and weight, with R values ranging from 0.9875 to 0.9921, suggesting a strong correlation. Furthermore, the length and weight regression parameters indicated isometric growth for C. zilli in all the months and pooled data. The values of the regression slope (b) did not deviate significantly from the standard value of 3 for isometric growth. Additionally, the t-test for isometry confirmed the results, as the calculated t-values were less than the critical t-values, indicating isometric growth of C. zilli in the Great Kwa River. The study also examined the condition factor of C. zilli. The condition factor ranged from 0.7 to 1.3, with no significant difference observed between the sampling months. This suggests that the fish maintained a relatively stable condition throughout the study period. Overall, this research provides valuable insights into the length-weight relationship, isometric growth, and condition factor of C. zilli in the Great Kwa River. The findings contribute to the understanding of the fish population dynamics and can serve as a basis for further studies on the species' ecology and conservation in Nigerian freshwater ecosystems.