Fecundity and Condition Factor of Clarias anguillaris of Oguta Lake, Nigeria Eke FN 1 , Odo GE 1* , Agwu JE 1 and Anya CB 2 1 Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Nigeria, Nigeria 2 Department of Biology, Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State, Nigeria *Corresponding author: Odo GE, Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Nigeria, Nigeria, Tel: +234 7037205640; E-mail: gregory.odo@unn.edu.ng Received date: October 05, 2017; Accepted date: October 20, 2017; Published date: October 27, 2017 Copyright: © 2017 Eke, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Abstract Fecundity and condition factor of Clarias angullaris were studied in Oguta Lake for eight weeks. Forty species of C. anguillaris were studied. The length-weight relationship, fecundity, condition factor and gonad-osomatic indices were factors employed for assessment of health status of the fish. The mean length and weight of the C. anguillaris collected were 27.46 ± 1.47 (12.00-38.50) cm and 391.26 ± 17.92 (144.60-553.40) g respectively. Some of the morphometrics manifested linkage and C. anguillaris exhibited a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.008, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) of -0.091. Fecundity-weight relationship of C. anguillaris was also not significant (p=0.062) with a Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) of -0.357 and coefficient of determination (R 2 )=0.127. The variations in condition factor of C. anguliaris at Oguta Lake was 19.96% (R 2 =0.1996) and this was explained by the variations in GSI. Clarias anguillaris from the Oguta Lake showed negative allometric growth pattern which implied that the fish species is increasing in length faster than its weight. This could be as a result of the polluted nature of the Lake, shortage of food supply, diseases which might have altered the fish speciation. Keywords Clarias anguillaris; Fecundity; Condition factor; Oguta lake Introduction Clariidae fsh species are known for its commercial value to people of Oguta. Fish oil contains vitamins A, D, E and K which have been successfully used in controlling coronary heart diseases, arthritis, atherosclerosis, asthma, auto immune defciency diseases and cancer [1]. Fish is ofen recommended for cardio-vascular disease patients because of its unique fat, which is composed mainly of Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid. In addition to its nutritious fesh, vitamins A and D present in fsh oil are important especially in infants and children [2]. Fish also supplies to the body, a range of inorganic minerals such as Phosphorus, Fluorine, Potassium, Iron, Zinc, Magnesium, and Copper in marine species Iodine as well as vitamins A and B complex [3]. Te proximate composition, nutritive values and mineral composition of fshes in Nigeria have been documented [4]. C. anguillaris is a native of Africa and air breathing catfsh which is also known as the mudfsh. Tis species is of importance in commercial fsheries. It grows to a length of 100 cm. Tey are used extensively in aquaculture on account of the ready availability of their seeds in the wild, good adaption to climate ability to support high population densities and to feed on grasses and weeds in the ponds. Tey feed mainly on fsh larvae, molluscs, crustacean and diatoms mostly during the rainy season. Teir growth is quite remarkable and pronounced during length-weight relation (LWR). Te condition factor in fsh serves as an indicator of physiological state of the fsh in relation to its welfare [5] and also provides information when comparing two populations living in certain feeding density, climate and other condition [6]. Tus, condition factor is important in understanding the life cycle of fsh species and it contributes to adequate management of these species, hence, maintaining the equilibrium in the ecosystem [7]. Te understanding of the biology, environmental parameters and population structure of C. anguillaris is essential to optimize production from the wild. Tere is paucity or no literature on fecundity and condition factor of C. anguillaris of Oguta Lake. Te only known information on Oguta Lake was the ones reported by Okonkwo et al. [8]. A study of fecundity and condition factor of C. angularis species from Oguta Lake will provide information for management decision and culture of the species in the area and similar water bodies. Hence, this work investigated the fecundity of diferent batch weight of C. angularis species, fecundity-weight, relative fecundity-length relationship, length-weight relationship and relative fecundity-weight relationship. Also the condition factor and gonado- somatic index of C anguillaris in Oguta Lake was as well determined. Materials and Methods Study area Oguta Lake is one of the inland fresh water drainage basins within South-eastern Nigeria. It lies approximately within Latitudes 50° 41ˈ and 50° 44ˈ North and Longitudes 60° 50ˈ and 60° 45ˈ East. It is located in Imo State, Nigeria. About linear in shape, the lake receives inputs from Rivers Njaba, Awbana and Orashi, while the fourth river, Utu fows in only during the rainy season Te Lake is a relatively small and shallow water body, the water volume increases tremendously during the rains; its maximum surface area being 2.48 Km 2 with a depth of 9.30 m [8]. Tis lake is the largest natural lake in South Eastern Nigeria; it is also a source of navigation and transportation, sightseeing and Odo et al., Fish Aqua J 2017, 8:4 DOI: 10.4172/2150-3508.1000229 Research Article Open Access Fish Aqua J, an open access journal ISSN:2150-3508 Volume 8 • Issue 4 • 1000229 F i s h e r i e s a n d A q u a c u l t u r e J o u r n a l ISSN: 2150-3508 Fisheries and Aquaculture Journal