Fillet Quality and Gut Content Analysis of Parachanna obscura and Clarias agboyiensis

Abstract

Nigeria waters are rich with a variety of fish species but only very feware cultured and available for consumption. This study was conducted toknow the fillet quality, gut content and condition of Parachanna obscuraand Clarias agboyiensis in Nigeria using Igbokoda river as a referencebecause it is a the major fishing site in the nation. Studies were conductedon the viscera somatic index based on the organ weight and the bodyweight of the fish and the food item consumed by Parachanna obscura andClarias agboyiensis between May to October, 2019 to infer on the filletquality and gut content of P. obscura and C. agboyiensis in the water bodyrespectively. A summary of food items that constituted the diet of Clariasagboyiensis are Baccillariophyta, fish, fat droplets, dinoflagellate, insectand Chlorophyta which constituted the most important food items bothoccurring in all stomachs containing food. The fishes has more muscle thanthe viscera organs which indicate that the weight of the fish before dressingout is higher than the weight of the fish after dressing out. This is suggestiveof a good quality of food fish. There was a significant correlation betweenbody weight and total length of specimens found in this study. Increasesin total length resulted in corresponding increases in body weight. Theresult for the condition factor showed was below the expected or standardvalue (K = 1) which shows this species was not in favorable environmentalcondition. It is therefore necessary to allow phytoplanktons grow well inwater body to increase availability of food items to Parachanna obscuraand Clarias agboyiensis. P. obscura and C. agboyiensis are also good foodfishes of a high fillet quality. They are omnivorous feeders therefore havingpotentials for aquaculture.