Length - Weight Relationship, Condition Factor and Stomach Content Analysis of Snow Trout From Khanikhola, Kavrepalanchok

Abstract

Schizothorax richardsonii is the major fishery of the riverine ecosystems in Khanikhola. The main aim of present study is to investigate the length-weight relationship, condition factor and stomach content analysis of Schizothorax richardsonii. A total of 116 fish samples including 40 male, 32 female and 44 juveniles were collected seasonally from October 2018 to April 2019. The total length ranged from 7.8cm to 27.8cm and the weight ranged from 4.8g to 255.1g. The length weight relationship was ( ), (

) and (

) were separately calculated for Autumn, Winter, Spring season respectively. The values of b for Autumn, Winter, Spring season were 3.29, 2.91, 2.63 respectively, which show allometric growth pattern in Schizothorax richardsonii. There was strong correlation between the length and weight of this fish in different season. The condition factor (K) range of between 0.75 and 1.21 was an indication that the fishes were thriving well in the River. Dissection of fish samples were made for food and feeding habits determination. . From the total number (104) of fishes, 92(88.46%) stomach were observed with food and remaining 12(11.54%) were empty. The major food items found in the stomach content was phytoplankton and detritus. Frequency of occurrence, and volumetric analysis index method were applied for stomach content analysis. Basic food of this fish mainly comprised of Bacillariophyceae (80.25%), Chlorophyceae (6.25%), Cyanophyceae (5.705%), Charophyceae (0.54%), insects (0.54%) and miscellaneous items (6.52%). In conclusion, the fish was found allometric in growth and herbivorous in nature.

Keywords: Length-weight relationship, Condition factor, isometric, allometric, gastrosomatic index