CONDITION FACTOR AND DIETARY COMPOSITION OF Oreochromis niloticus FROM ERO DAM IN IKUN EKITI, EKITI STATE, NIGERIA

This study focused on the condition factor and dietary composition of Oreochromis niloticus in Ero dam, Ekiti State, Nigeria during which a total of 84 specimens of the fish species were examined. In this study, the condition factor (K) of the fish species was higher than 1 and ranged between 3.15 and 4.71 in the males and 3.16 – 4.37 in the females. This showed a good health condition of the fish species. Analysis of the stomach contents of the specimens using frequency of occurrence and numerical abundance method revealed O. niloticus to be an omnivore with phytoplankton as the dominant food item followed by Copepods, Amoeba and insect parts. Results also showed that 90.48% of the sample had food in the stomach while 9.52% were empty.