Growth Pattern and Length-Weight Relationship in Poecilia Reticulata (Peters) (Poeciliidae) Inhabiting the Drainage Canal System of Lagos Metropolis (Nigeria)

This study investigated the growth pattern and length-weight relationship in Poecilia reticulata from the canal ecosystem of Lagos, Nigeria. A total of 2,400 fish specimens were caught, with total length ranging from 1.50 to 5.40 (3.30 ± 0.20) cm and weight ranged between 0.10 and 1.50 (0.63 ± 0.03) g. The length-frequency polygon showed four class intervals: 1.50-2.40 cm (51.29%); 2.50-3.40 cm (45.29%); 3.50-4.40 cm (3.25%); and 4.50-5.40 cm (0.17%). The value of “b” ranged from 1.3428-1.9863 which showed negative allometric growth, while the value of “r” ranged from 0.5 to 0.8. The mean K value was 1.05 ± 0.09 ‒ 1.62 ± 0.15.