Assessment of Suitability of Kerian River Tributaries Using Length-weight Relationship and Relative Condition Factor of Six Freshwater Fish Species

Abstract

The length-weight relationship and condition factor of six freshwater fish species were conducted monthly at selected rivers of Kerian River Basin from May 2008 to May 2009. The fish species studied were Devario regina, Labiobarbus sp., Puntius binotatus, Rasbora sumatrana, Acantopsis choironrhycos and Cyclocheilichthys apogon.  The value of fish growth (b) shows that D. regina (b = 3.256), P. binotatus (b = 3.911), R. sumatrana (b = 3.642) and C. apogon (b = 3.623) had positive allometric growth, while Labiobarbus sp. (b = 2.898) and A. choironrhycos (b = 2.427) had negative allometric growth. The mean Kn varied from 1.003 ± 0.109 (A. choirorhynchos) to 1.873 ± 0.203 (R. sumatrana). Of all the fish species, only mean Kn of R. sumatrana showed significant difference among the sampling sites, at P < 0.05, suggesting the fish growth in the Kerian River basin was in a good condition.

Keywords: Length-weight relationship, condition factor, freshwater, Kerian River Basin, Malaysia