DETERMINATION OF MORPHOMETRIC RELATIONSHIP AND CONDITION FACTORS OF FOUR CICHLIDS FROM GOLINGA RESERVOIR IN NORTHERN REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

Length-weight relationship and condition factor have several applications on fish biology, physiology, ecology and fisheries assessment. A six-month study was conducted from November 2013 to April 2014 to determine the length-weight relationship and condition factor of four major cichlids namely Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia), Hemichromis fasciatus (Banded jewelfish), Sarotherodon galilaeus (Mango fish) and Tilapia zillii (Red-belly tilapia) to fill a knowledge gap and provide useful information for fisheries management and conservation in the Golinga reservoir using the length-weight based model. Samples were collected twice every month with gill nets from commercial fishermen. The length-weight relationship had a strong positive correlation (r>0.8) for the four species. Oreochromis niloticus exhibited isometric growth (b = 3.07) whilst Hemichromis fasciatus (b = 2.81), Sarotherodon galilaeus (b = 2.91) and Tilapia zillii (b = 2.75) showed negative allometric growth. Mean condition factor (K) values were greater than one (3.66-4.88) for all the species and varied monthly. The study provided new information on length-weight parameters for the four cichlids.