Evaluation of Rearing Environment Influence on General Body Measurements of Catfish, Khartoum State, Sudan

Better knowledge of nutritional value of fish, which is expected to be closely associated with fish species, could contribute to the understanding of variability in meat quality of different species of the Nile fish. This study was conducted in Khartoum State, The aim of this study was to evaluate General body measurements of fish of Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and their rearing environment in Khartoum State. A total of 60 samples of catfish (Clarias gariepinus) were collected from Nile river and earthen ponds fish farms around Khartoum State and subjected to the General measurements of fish (The total length (cm), standard length (cm), body depth (cm) and head length (cm)). Also, a total of 36 samples of water were collected from the ponds where fish samples were taken, Water quality parameters (No2, No3, Cl2, PH, TDS, EC. and Salinity were done where fish samples has been collected. The data was subjected to SPSS by using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The findings of this study revealed that, showed a highly significant difference (P≤0.01) in all general measurements of Catfish. And catfish (C. Gariepinus) from Nile environment Fish from earthen pond environment recorded the higher figures in general measurements except the head length was higher in Nile river fish and there was highly significant difference (P≤0.01). However, when compare Nile River water and earthen pond water, we found that; the pH and electrical conductivity showed a highly significant difference (P≤0.01), and total dissolved solids and salinity showed no significant difference (P>0.05). Accordingly, the study concluded the farm fish observed has greater general measurements than Nile river fish except the head length was found bigger in Nile fish. Also, Nile river aquaculture environment is an immediate environment in relation to ponds environment. The study recommended that, aquaculture is so recent in Sudan and only few farmers are realize about water quality parameters, hence the facilities and equipment for physico-chemical parameters measurements should be facilitated to aquaculturists and rearing fish.