Length-weight relationship, condition factor and feeding habits of Synodontis schall (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) In river Benue at Makurdi, Nigeria

Abstract

The Length-Weight relationship (LWR), condition factor and feeding habits of Synodontis schall (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) were studied over a 24-month period from January, 2009 to December, 2010. A total number of 635 specimens comprising of 329 males and 306 females with the size range of 6.1-30.40 cm and the mean of 12.04 ± 0.11cm were studied. The weight ranged from 53.0-864g with the mean of 57.71 ± 2.26g. The LWRs for the females, males and combined sexes had r-values of 0.9333, 0.9308 and 0.9411respectively. The mean condition factor K was 2.874, 2.838 and 2.855; regression coefficient b 2.5290, 2.4977 and 2.6749 for the females, males and combined sexes respectively. Out of the 635 stomachs examined for food items, 153 (24.09%) were empty while 482 (75.91%) contained wide range and varying quantities of food items indicating that S.schall in River Benue is Omnivorous.