Vol. 13 No. 47-55 (2022): STUDY OF CONDITION FACTORS AND ORGAN INDICES OF SOME COMMERCIAL FISHES OF AGAIE - LAPAI RESERVOIR, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Condition factor designated as K is an important tool in fish biology and aquaculture, which

indicates the well - being of fish, and also determines the conduciveness of the environment

for survival. This study examined the condition factor and organ indices of some commercial

fishes of Agaie - Lapai Reservoir, Niger State. Twenty-five (25) samples each of Clarias

gariepinus, Auchenoglanis occidentalis and Bagrus bayad were collected and used for this

study. The condition factors of A. occidentalis was 0.04 with mean Total Length (25.59cm),

C. gariepinus was 0.04 with mean Total Length (25.88cm) and B. bayad was 0.04 with

mean Total Length (27.70cm), being less than 1 showed that the fishes are not in good

condition in the reservoir. Mean monthly condition factor did not differ significantly

(p>0.05) and showed that these fishes were not in good condition. There was low level of

energy reserve based on mean hepatosomatic index of A. occidentalis (0.70), C. gariepinus

(0.90) and for B. bayad (0.76). Mean spleen somatic index of A. occidentalis (0.08), C.

gariepinus (0.08) and B. bayad (0.07) showed decreased spleen size due to low red blood

cell produced or stored. Low mean cardiosomatic index of A. occidentalis (0.07), C.

gariepinus (0.08) and B. bayad (0.09) depicted small heart size. Low mean gonadosomatic

index of Auchenoglanis occidentalis (0.14), Clarias gariepinus (3.49) and Bagrus bayad

(0.16) showed that gonads were small and not matured.