LENGTH-WEIGHT RELATIONSHIP AND CONDITION FACTOR OF FRESHWATER CATFISH, CLUPISOMA GARUA (HAMILTON, 1822) FROM DIFFERENT RIVERS OF NORTH INDIA.

The study of length-weight relationship and condition factor was carried out on of freshwater catfish, Clupisoma garua. Altogether 280 samples were collected from three different rivers of North India (Gomti, Ganga and Rapti). The value of b ranges from 2.571-2.720 for the length-weight relationship in the current study. The growth pattern showed significant deviation from isometric value (b=3), therefore all the three populations are supposed to follow negative allometric growth pattern. The coefficient of determination (r2) was found to be in the range of 0.8059-0.8587. The value of condition factor in the present study was found to be more than '1' in all the three populations of the fish which indicated the good health conditions. The present study is considered to be important for assessment of the biology of the fish that could help in conservation and management of C. garua in the North Indian Rivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]