Length-weight relationship and condition factor of Labeo niloticus, Synodontis schall and Auchenoglanis occidentalis, in Upper Atbara and Setit Dam Complex, Gadarif State, Sudan

Abstract

This study was undertaken to assess the length-weight relationship and condition factor of Labeo niloticus; Synodontis schall and Auchenoglanis occidentalis, in Upper Atbara and Setit Dam Complex, Gadarif State, Sudan from September 2019 to January 2020. Samples of fish were collected monthly for a 5 months period. A total of 1475 specimens of L. niloticus (500 samples), S. schall (500 samples) and A. occidentalis (475 samples). Fish species sampled in the study area had size range of 17 to 37 cm, 11.6 to 30.5 cm and 16.7 to 38.8 cm, for L. niloticus, S. schall and A. occidentalis, respectively. The weight ranged from 88 to 927 g, 49 to 682 g and 94 to 1334 g, for L. niloticus, S. schall and A. occidentalis, respectively. The LWRs for the combined sexes had the (r) values of 0.974, 0.902 and 0.906, respectively. The mean condition factor (K) was 3.121±0.262, 2.902±0.435 and 2.366±0.292 for the combined sexes, respectively. The regression coefficient b was 2.848, 2.619 and 2.823 for the combined sexes, respectively indicating negative allometric growth pattern for all species.