COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF MORPHOMETRIC AND GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS OF AFRICAN CATFISH (CLARIAS GARIEPINUS) IN CULTURED AND WILD HABITATS IN ZARIA, NIGERIA
Abstract
This study provides an assessment of the condition factor, length-weight relationship, and sex ratio of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) in both controlled (cultured) and uncontrolled (wild) habitats within Zaria, Nigeria. As a key species for commercial fisheries and food security, the African catfish plays a vital role in fisheries management. Using standard methods, 360 samples of Clarias gariepinus were collected and subjected to morphometric measurements, including total length (TL) and body weight (W). The condition factor (K) was determined using the formula K = (W/L³) × 100, while the length-weight relationship (LWR) was expressed as W = aLb, revealing allometric growth patterns. Controlled populations exhibited a greater average total length and weight (35.06 ± 5.13 cm, 318.05 ± 146.75 g) compared to their wild counterparts (30.69 ± 7.51 cm, 232.45 ± 154.89 g). The condition factor in both environments was relatively low (<1.00), suggesting possible environmental stress. The sex ratios indicated a slight female predominance in both settings, with ratios of 1.00:1.52 for controlled environments and 1.00:1.47 for wild populations. These results emphasize the need for further research into the environmental factors influencing fish health and growth, providing critical information for optimizing fisheries management and conservation strategies.
References
Abdul-Azeez, H., & Muhammad, B. (2024). Evaluation of Physico-Chemical Water Quality, Length-Weight Relationship and Condition Factor of Fish Species Inhabiting Thomas Reservoir, Kano, Nigeria. Biological and Environmental Sciences Journal for the Tropics, 21(2), 139-144. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/bestj.v21i2.15
Adeniyi, A. O. and Agbugui M. O. (2024): Length-weight relationship and condition factor of the dominant fish species in lower river Niger, Agenebode, Nigeria. International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies. 12 (5): 62-68 DOI: 10.22271/fish.2024.v12.i5a.2969 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22271/fish.2024.v12.i5a.2969
Adeyemi, S.O., Binta, I.U., Isiyaku, M. S & Micah, A.D (2020). Biometrics and Dietary Studies of Citharinus citharus In the Lower River Niger in Kogi State, Nigeria. pat nsuk journal, 16 (1): 18-24 ISSN: 0794-5213.
ArechavalaLopez, P., Cabreralvarez, M. J., Maia, C. M., & Saraiva, J. L. (2022). Environmental enrichment in fish aquaculture: A review of fundamental and practical aspects. Reviews in Aquaculture, 14(2), 704-728. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.12620
Asres, A. T., Alebachew, S., & Kebtieneh, N. (2023). Length-weight relationships and reproductive biology of commercially important fishes from Ribb Reservoir, Ethiopia. Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 26(5), 318-335. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47853/FAS.2023.e27
Balogun, A. T., Ajibare, A. O., & Ojo, O. B. (2025). Sex Ratio, Gonado-Somatic Index and Hepato-Somatic Index of Coptodon zilli and Oreochromis niloticus inhabiting Ureje Reservoir, Ado-Ekiti. Fudma Journal of Sciences, 9(2), 1 - 5. https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2025-0902-2742 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2025-0902-2742
Brahim, A. A., Houndonogbo, P. K., Baglo, I. S., Chikou, A., & Laleye, P. A. (2023). Weight-length and total length-standard length factor relationships, and condition factor of the main fish species in Lake Maabo, Chad (Central Africa). International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences, 17(7), 2631-2642. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/ijbcs.v17i7.3
Butu, A.W. and Bichi, A.A. (2013). Assessment of some heavy elements in Galma dam, Zaria, Nigeria International Journal of Development and Sustainability, 2:686-696.
Canosa, L. F., & Bertucci, J. I. (2023). The effect of environmental stressors on growth in fish and its endocrine control. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 14, https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2023.1109461 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2023.1109461
Cao, L., Naylor, R., Henriksson, P., Leadbitter, D., Metian, M., Troell, M., & Zhang, W. (2019). China's aquaculture and the world's wild fisheries. Science, 347(6218):133-135. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1260149
Ellis, T., Yildiz, H. Y., Lpez-Olmeda, J. F., Spedicato, M. T., Tort, L., verli, ., & Martins, C. I. (2020). Cortisol and finfish welfare. Fish Physiology and Biochemistry, 46(5):1207-1225.
Fagbuaro, O., Oso, J., Olurotimi, M., and Akinyemi, O. (2015). Morphometric and Meristic Characteristics of Clarias gariepinus from Controlled and Uncontrolled Population from Southwestern Nigeria. Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International, 39-45. DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/JAERI/2015/11781
FAO. (2018). The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2018- Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals. Rome.
FAO. (2020). Clarias gariepinus. In: FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department. Rome. http://www.fao.org/fishery/culturedspecies/Clariasgariepinus/en.
FAO. (2021). The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (2020). Sustainability in action. Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/ca9229en
Jobling, M. (1994). Fish Bioenergetics. Chapman & Hall Press, London, LeCren, E. (1951). The length-weight relationship and seasonal cycle in gonadal weight and Condition in Perch, Perca fluviatilis. Journal of Animal Ecology, (20): 201-219.
Jobling, M. (2012). Fish in aquaculture environments. Aquaculture and Behavior, 36-64. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781444354614.ch2
Kasper, S., Adeyemo, O. K., Becker, T., Scarfe, D., & Tepper, J. (2022). Aquatic environment and life support systems (Eds.). (2022) Fundamentals of Aquatic Veterinary Medicine. John Wiley & Sons 272 pp. www.antoniogoliveira.com
Laboni, T. A., Khatun, H., Khatun, M., Rahman, M. A., Islam, M. A., Ratry, Y. A., & Hossain, M. Y. (2024). Reproductive performance of Channa striata in wetland ecosystems: a fuzzy logic approach to water quality and eco-climatic factors for long-term sustainable management and aquaculture advancement. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 31(59): 67051-67069. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-35701-9
Lpez-Mas, L., Claret, A., Reinders, M. J., Banovic, M., Krystallis, A., & Guerrero, L. (2021). Farmed or wild fish? Segmenting European consumers based on their beliefs. Aquaculture, 532, 735992. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2020.735992
Le Cren, E. D. (1951). The length-weight relationship and seasonal cycle in gonad weight and condition in the perch (Perca fluviatilis). The Journal of Animal Ecology, 201-219. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1540
Maplandia (2021). Zaria Map, Nigeria Google satellite Maps. www.maplandia.com.
Miller, D. H., Villeneuve, D. L., SantanaRodriguez, K. J., & Ankley, G. T. (2023). A Multidimensional Matrix Model for Predicting the Effects of MaleBiased Sex Ratios on Fish Populations. Environmental toxicology and chemistry, 41(4), 1066-1077. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5287
Nwabueze, A. A., & Nwabueze, E. O. (2021). Impact of environmental variables on abundance, growth and condition factor of Gymnarchus niloticus (Curvier, 1829) from Umueze-Ossissa lake system, Southern Nigeria. Asian Journal of Agriculture and Biology, 3(202011567), 10-35495. DOI: https://doi.org/10.35495/ajab.2020.11.567
Nwokocha, A. C., Patrick, N. O., Ekwerekwu, I. J., Omodewu, A. O., & Lemuel, S. M. (2019). Fecundity Correlations; Critical Allometric Determinant for Spawning of Clarias Gariepinus from River Uke, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 9(1), 85110. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29322/IJSRP.9.01.2019.p85110
Olatunji, A. M. (2021). Lengthweight relationship and condition factor of long neck croakerPseudotolithus typus (Bleeker, 1863) from Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria. International Journal of Fish & Aquatic Studies, 9(2), 09-13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22271/fish.2021.v9.i2a.2433
Oyebola, O. O., Omitoyin, S. B., Hounhoedo, A. O. O., & Agadjihoud, H. (2022). Length-weight relationship and condition factor revealed possibility of mix strains in Clarias gariepinus population of Oueme Valley, Benin Republic (West Africa). Total Environment Research Themes, 3, 100009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.totert.2022.100009
Oyekanmi, F. B., Adeosun, O. M., Adeosun, F. I., Akin-Obasola, B. J., & Olemoh, O. E. (2023). Lengthweight relationship of Tilapia mariae in Lower Ogun River, Akomoje Water Reservoir, Nigeria.
Segun, A. D. S., Abubakar, I. O. M., Sabo, M., Musa, M. A., & Ijabo, O. S. (2023). Length-Weight Relationship and Condition Factors of Sarotherodon galilaeus (Linnaeus, 1758) from Nguru-Gashua Wetlands, Northeast Nigeria. Journal Perikanan Universitas Gadjah Mada, 25(1): 51-56. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22146/jfs.76818
Thomas, M., Pasquet, A., Aubin, J., Nahon, S., & Lecocq, T. (2021). When more is more: taking advantage of species diversity to move towards sustainable aquaculture. Biological reviews, 96(2), 767-784. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.12677
Copyright (c) 2025 FUDMA JOURNAL OF SCIENCES
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
FUDMA Journal of Sciences
