Monthly Frequency Occurrence, Sex-ratio, Length-weight Relationship and Condition Factor of Native Fishes Caught in a Tropical Floodplain Rivers of Cameroon, Central Africa

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate the aquaculture potential of the native fishes from the Mbô Floodplain (MF) Rivers for their domestication and preservation the genetic diversity. Study Design: Descriptive research. Place and Duration of Study: Laboratory of Applied Ichthyology and Hydrobiology, Department of Animal Productions, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, the University of Dschang-Cameroon, between October 2008 and October 2009. Methodology: A total of 449 fishes measured 11.50 to 50.50cm (mean: 24.60±5.70 SDcm) total length (TL) and 8 to 1300g (mean: 169.18±111.01 SDg) total weight (W), were used for the analysis. Taxonomic identification was performed. The TL and the W were measured using an ichtyometer and electronic balance respectively. The sex of the fish was determined by macroscopic examination of genital papilla or the gonads after dissection. Fishes were counted by species, sexes and months. For data analysis, descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, t-test, general linear model, and the statistical significance of r2 were performed using SPSS 20.0 software at 5% and 1% significance levels. Results: Four families with four species were determined: Clariidae (Clarias jaensis), Cyprinidae (Labeo camerunensis and Labeobarbus batesii), Cichlidae (Tilapia camerunensis). All fish species were a higher size. The allometry coefficient b ranged from 2.01 (Labeo camerunensis) to 3.12 (C. jaensis) (mean=2.58±0.50 SD). All species sampled have more females than males indicate the number of both females and males for possible relative sex percentages. Fish species shows positive and negative allometric growth. The higher K factor was recorded in the Cichlidae family and the lower in Clariidae. However the majority of fish species showed a good well-being. Conclusion: All fish species show a positive aquaculture potential. Then they could be domesticated and preserved genetic diversity. This study, however, need further work to validate reliability.