BODY COMPOSITION OF OREOCHROMIS MOSSAMBICUS IN RELATION TO BODY SIZE AND CONDITION FACTOR

Abstract

Sixty three wild Oreochromis mossambicus with body sizes ranging from 2.5 – 18.6 cm in total length (TL) and 0.22 – 128.65 gm in wet body weight (W) were sampled for analysis of body composition parameters in relation to body size and condition factor. It was observed that highly significant inverse correlation exist between water content (%) and organic, fat, protein and ash contents (%, wet body weight) respectively. The condition factor has a highly significant inverse correlation with water content while it has highly significant positive correlation with organic, fat, protein and ash contents (%wet body weights). If it is impossible to determine the water content then the body constituents can be estimated from total length, wet body weight and condition factor of this species within the size range studied. As the variations in body composition are related to these variables, so the equations of each  constituent were estimated. The predictive equations can be used to estimate values of body composition with a fair amount of accuracy.