Length-Weight Relationships and Condition Factors of Three Tilapine Species in an Abandoned Gold Mine Reservoir, Igun, Southwestern Nigeria

This study investigated the length-weight relationships and condition factors of three fish species in an abandoned gold mine reservoir. The fishes were caught on monthly basis between August 2015 and July 2016 using gill nets and traps. The results showed that Coptodon zillii, Oreochromis niloticus and Sarotherodon galilaeus had a mean total length and mean weight of 15.52±4.64 cm and 95.80±66.27 g; 15.27±4.18 cm and 89.54±63.20 g; 15.57±4.80 cm and 102.0±85.81 g respectively. Also, the mean condition factor obtained for the fish species are 2.24±0.52 in C. zillii; 2.26±0.62 in O. niloticus and 2.27±0.46 in S. galilaeus. Similarly, the slope (b) values and correlation coefficient for the three fish species are 2.018 and 0.969 for C. zillii; 1.977 and 0.926 for O. niloticus and 2.436 and 0.965 for S. galilaeus. Furthermore, the total length, weight and condition factor between C. zillii, O. niloticus and S. galilaeus differ significantly (p>0.05). The study concluded that despite being an abandoned gold mine reservoir, the environment is well suitable for the fishes.