Length-weight relationship and condition factor based assessment of growth pattern of a cold water fish Schizothorax richardsonii from different habitats of Himalayan region

Abstract

Schizothorax richardsonii is the major fishery of the riverine ecosystems in Uttarakhand. The length–weight relationships and condition factor of Schizothorax richardsonii were estimated in the present study for which five sampling sites were selected which included four lotic water bodies and one farmed stock. The sites selected were river Kosi, river Alaknanda, Chirapani stream, river Gaula and one captive stock of DCFR farm. The results revealed that fish of river Alaknanda had an isometric growth pattern having a growth coefficient of 3.08 while the rest showed a negative allometric growth pattern. The growth coefficient (b) values varied between 2.40 to 3.08. The condition factor of river Alaknada was highest followed by river Kosi, Chirapani stream, river Gaula and farmed stock. The values of condition factor suggested that running water is better for the growth of this species. The values of condition factor are more than one in all the sites depicting good condition for dwelling the fish.