Aspects of the biology of juvenile Aba, Gymnarchus niloticus (Curvier 1829) from Epe Lagoon, Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Gymnarchus niloticus is a commercial and socio-cultural important fish in Nigeria. Nevertheless, its fishery is largely based on the seed catch from the wild. Hitherto, diet preference, feeding strategy, relative gut length, length – weight relationship and Condition Factor (K) of G. niloticus juveniles were investigated. Fish samples (n = 222) were collected monthly between June and November 2017 from artisanal fishermen at Epe Lagoon. Stomach content analysis revealed that juvenile G. niloticus are carnivorous on fish, insects and crustaceans. Juveniles exhibited specialist feeding strategy on insects. Overall relative gut length was 0.65 (