International Journal of Sciences: Basic and Applied Research (IJSBAR) ISSN 2307-4531 (Print & Online) http://gssrr.org/index.php?journal=JournalOfBasicAndApplied --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seasonal Changes of Length -Weight Relationship and Condition Factor of Five Fish Species in Lake Baringo, Kenya Elijah Migiro Kembenya a* , Erick Ochieng Ogello b , Cecilia Muthoni Githukia c , Callen Nyaboke Aera d , Reuben Omondi e and Jonathan Mbonge Munguti f a,b,c,d Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Kegati Aquaculture Research Station, P.O Box 3259- 40200 Kisii, Kenya e Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Kisumu Station, P.O Box 1881- 40100 Kisumu, Kenya f Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, National Aquaculture Research Development & Training Centre (NARDTC), P.O. Box 26, Sagana, Kenya Abstract This study describes the length-weight relationships (LWR) and relative condition factor (K) of five fish species in Lake Baringo, Kenya. A total of 483 fishes consisting of Barbus intermedius, Clarias gariepinus, Labeo cylindricus, Oreochromis niloticus baringoensis and Protopterus aethiopicus were collected on monthly basis from Lake Baringo between September 2012 and August 2013. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the weight at unit length (b) of the length weight relationship between the wet and dry season in all the fish species. However, there was no significant difference (P> 0.05) in condition factor between the two seasons. In all the five species studied, the sex ratio did not deviate from the expected sex ration of 1:1. The b values were within the range of 2.2 and 3.4 in both the dry and the wet seasons respectively, indicating an isometric growth of the fishes. The condition factor (K) for all the five species from Lake Baringo was well above 1 suggesting a relatively good physiological condition of the fishes in the lake. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ * Corresponding author. E-mail address: ekembenya@yahoo.com. 130 brought to you by CORE View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk provided by GSSRR.ORG: International Journals: Publishing Research Papers in all Fields