Length-Weight Relationship and Condition Factor of Porogobius schlegelii and Bathygobius soporator from Buguma Creek, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

The present study investigated the length-weight relationship and condition factor of two fish species Bathygobius soporator and Porogobius schlegelii, in Buguma Creek. Over a three-month period (March – May 2018), 2000 different size fish samples each of B. soporator (1000) and P. schlegelii (1000) were collected by artisanal fishermen in Buguma Creek. The study collected total length and total weight data using a meter ruler and a digitally sensitive scale (Sartorius Model H987) for each species allowing determination of the growth exponent(b), coefficient of determination (r2) and mean condition factor values for the fish species. The study found that B. soporator ranged in total length from 7.00 to 18.80cm and from 2.00 to 14.70g, while P. shlegelli measured 4.50 to 11.50cm and weighed 1.30 to 7.10g. The growth exponent (b) ranged from 1.77 to 2.64 for B. soporator and 1.26 to 2.41 for P. schlegelli, indicating a negative allometric growth pattern for the two species, while the r2 values for B. soporator ranged between 0.61 and 0.89 and for P. schlegelli between 0.52 and 0.81 in Buguma Creek. The mean condition factor values for B. soporator ranged from 0.88 to 1.51, while for P. schlegelli it ranged from 0.38 to 0.39, suggesting that B. soporator had a higher condition factor than P. schlegelli, indicating better health and body condition for B. soporator and raising concern for the health of the P. schlegelli population in Buguma Creek. There is therefore an urgent need to establish conservation areas or fishing restrictions to allow the P. schlegelli fish population to recover and maintain a healthy population of the creek.