Food and Feeding Habits and Allometric Relationship of Synodontis schall in Lower Ogun River, Akomoje, Ogun State, Nigeria

Overfishing and depletion of wild fish stock are a major problem facing the fisheries sector in Nigeria, hence the need to carry out an extensive research on the biology of wild species. The aim of this study was to provide contributory information on the biology of Synodontis schall from Ogun River, Nigeria. Ninety fish samples were obtained from local fishermen bi-monthly between February and August, 2015. The length and weight of the specimen were measured and length-weight relationship was determined using the formula W=aLb. Gut content of the specimens was studied using the frequency of occurrence and numerical method. Index of stomach fullness was also determined monthly. Gut content revealed both plants and animal items consisting mainly of insects, rotifers, crustaceans, fish parts, algae etc. indicating omnivorous feeding habit. Percentage stomach fullness was higher during the peak of the wet season (July and August). Total length, standard length and weight of specimens were ranged between 15.4 and 29.0 cm, 10.1 and 23.5 cm and 50 g and 198 g, respectively. Length-weight analyses gave the values of ‘b’, ‘a’, and ‘r’ as 1.520, 1.115 and 0.8967, respectively, exhibiting a negative allometric growth pattern. The study therefore, shed light on the biology of the species and thus, contributes to documented facts about the species from the Akomoje reservoir, with a view towards developing the aquaculture of the reservoir