PROXIMATE COMPOSITION AND MINERAL COMPONENTS OF SOME SPECIES OF FISH SOLD IN BIDA FISH MARKET

This study was conducted on the proximate and mineral compositions of different species of fish sold in Bida fish market in Niger state Nigeria. The five (5) species which includes: Protopterus anectens,Claria gariepinus,Gymnarchus niloticus, Oreochromis niloticus and Heterotis niloticus were evaluated using standard techniques for the proximate analysis such as carbohydrate, protein, fat, moisture, ash, fibre and fat content were analyzed while Mg, Mn, Ca, Fe, Zn and K were evaluated for the minera l analysis using the AOAC methods and Atomic Absorption Spectrometric techniques. The species shows variable results in the proximate analysis. However the proximate analysis shows encouraging high crude protein content in (61.90%). Fat contents recorded highest in Claria gariepinus (23.81%). Crude fibre was highest in Heterotis niloticus (3.32%). Moisture content was recorded high in all the species Gymnarchus niloticus (78.5%) and low in Protopterus anectens (66.9%) respectively. The ash content was high in Heterotis niloticus (12.44%) the carbohydrate content was recorded highest for Gymnarchus niloticus as 5.39%. the mineral analysis shows K was relatively high in almost all the species except in Protopterus anectens and other minerals determined were in present in relatively small amount and also Mn was not detected in all the species of fish