LENGTH-WEIGHT RELATIONSHIP AND CONDITION OF INDIGENOUS CATFISH, RITA RITA (HAMILTON) FROM CEMENTED PONDS UNIVERSITY OF SINDH, JAMSHORO

Abstract

Length-weight relationship and relative condition factor (Kn) was measured of indigenous catfish, Rita rita (Hamilton) collected from the stock maintained in the cemented cisterns at the University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan. A total of 213 (171 male and 42 female) specimens ranging from 139-417mm in length (TL) and 32.7-779.6 g in weight were used for the analyses during June to November 2008. Length-weight relationship is described by the following equations: Log W= -3.02 + 3.87 log L (for male) Log W= -0.92 + 2.34 log L (for female) and Log W= -2.62 + 3.56 log L (for combined sexes) The relative condition factor (Kn) values were found to be 0.99, 0.81 and 0.94 for male, female and combined sexes respectively. The length-weight relationship and relative condition factor (Kn) values indicated that the male of R. rita was found to be in good condition than that of female from the experimental cemented pond.