Length-Weight Relationship and Condition Factors of Indian Major Carps (C. catla, L. rohita and C. mrigala ) in Mahi Bajaj Sagar, India

In this paper, length-weight relationships (LWR), c ondition factor (K) and relative condition factor ( Kn) for three commercially important Indian major carps ( Catla catla, Labeo rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala ) from Mahi Bajaj Sagar are described. Mahi Bajaj Sagar-a freshwater reservoir, is situated in Banswara district of Rajasthan. Thi s large sheet of water is an important major water body of the west coast river system of India. LWRs parameters are calculat ed for the three carp species and found significant. The correlation coef ficient ‘r’ was significant and observed to be 0.91 8, 0.976 and 0.970 in catla , rohu and mrigal , respectively for pooled data. However, these valu es ranged from 0.664-0.903, 0.741-880 and 0.819-0.967 for catla, rohu and mrigala, respective ly in different length groups. In LWR (W=aL b ) values of exponent ‘b’ were observed to be 3.275 for catla , 3.376 for rohu and 3.362 for mrigal from pooled data whereas such values varied from 3.160-3.805 for catla , 3.110-4.574 for rohu and 2.498-3.375 for mrigala in different length groups. The values of ‘K’ were 3.083 in catla , 1.695 in rohu and 1.714 in mrigal from pooled data. Moreover, it is fluctuated betwe en 2.788-3.094 in catla , 2.011-2.213 in rohu and 1.523-1.962 in mrigal for different length groups. The values of relati ve condition factor (Kn) were observed in range 1.000-0.999 in different len gth groups and 1.018-0.998 for the pooled data of s elected species. These parameters have been found very useful to evaluate the wellbeing of populations, their biology f or scientific management of fisheries and stock assessment.