Studies on the Age, Growth and Condition Factor of <i>Clarias</i> (Clarioides) (Pisces: Clariidae) in Epie Creek Flodplain of the Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract

Investigation into the age, growth and condition factors of four members of the sub-genus Clarias (Clarioides): Clarias buthupogon, C. agboyiensis, C. macromystax and C. albopunctatus was conducted in the Epie creek floodplain. Five distinct conponent or year classes were observed for both C. agboyiensis and C. buthupogon by the use of B. hattacharya's method. The growth exponential values of ‘b' were 2.89 (C.agboyiensis), 3.18 (C. buthupogon), 2.53 (C. macromystax) and 2.73 (C. albopunctatus). The correlation coefficient between the length and weights were found to be high for all the species (r = 0.99) and highly significant (p<0.001). Condition factor values ‘k' ranged from 0.80 to 0.95 (C. agboyiensis), 0.72 to 0.89 (C. Buthupogon), 0.65 to 0.91 (C. macromystax) and 0.57 to 0.91 (C. albopunctatus).

Keywords:age, growth, condition factor, Clarias (Clarioides), Epie creek floodplain.

Tropical Freshwater Biology Vol. 16 (1) 2007: pp. 31-48