Growth and foods of the Bigfisted Swim Crab (Callinectes latimanus) from Abonnema Creek, Rivers State, Nigeria

A study on the growth and food of Callinectes latimanus from Abonnema creek, Rivers State, Nigeria was carried out for a period of three months (May to July 2023) using standard methods. Regression analysis of length-weight revealed that the fish growth was allometric (2.1241±0.084), Fulton’s condition factor for the fish was 1.472767±0.158136. Frequency of occurrence and points method were used to examine the gut contents, Index of food significance for the species showed that algae was the most preferred food item (37.27%), Other food items found the stomach of the fish were shrimp (tissue and shell) 16,39%, polychaetes 15.53%, other crustaceans found in the gut constituted 8.97% of the food consumed. Gastropods (tissue and shell) was 8.45%, sediment grains 5.17%, pieces (tissue, bone, fins and spine) contributed 3.10% of food ingested while bivalve (tissue and shell) added 1.01% . The food preference of the Bigfisted swim crab in Abonnema Creek indicated that it is an omnivore and would required compounded food made from both animal and plant sources if reared in captivity.