Growth Economics and Biometric Comparison of Length Weight Relationship in Two Intra Generic Varieties of Clarias Isolated from Dumbur Lake, in a Rural District of Tripura, India

Abstract

Comparative study on length-weight relationship of wild Clarias batrachus isolated from the Dumbur Lake of South Tripura district, Amarpur sub-division (Approximate Longitude 92◦ E, Latitude 23◦ N) and an exotic variety of the same species cultured in various water bodies in the same district, was conducted from Oct, 07 to Feb, 08. Biometric study of length-weight relationship is an important tool for growth assessment as well as an indicator of health condition of an animal. Length-weight relationship was calculated for the wild and the exotic variety of Clarias by the following equation log10W= log10a b log10 L. Regression analysis and relative condition factor as described in the text depicts that the exotic Clarias species has higher increment of body mass, compared to the wild Clarias batrachus of the same length groups. This probably indicates toward a less selective pray catch and omnivorous food habit of the exotic breed as well as of its high feed conversion efficiency.

Keywords: Clarias, Comparative Regression analysis, Relative condition factor

JEL Classification: A12