This document summarizes a study on the length-weight relationship and condition factor of Tetraodon cutcutia fish collected from Neematighat, Assam, India between April 2011 and March 2013. The growth coefficient (b) and condition factor (K) were calculated monthly, seasonally, and by sex. b values ranged from 1.13-2.33 for males and 1.19-5.32 for females, indicating allometric growth. K ranged from 2.66-6.722 for males and 2.362-7.048 for females. Seasonally, b was lowest in pre-monsoon and highest in post-monsoon for males, while K was highest in winter for both

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American International Journal of
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Length-weight relationship and condition factor of Tetraodon cutcutia
(Ham) from Neematighat, Assam (India)
1
P. Karmakar & 2
S.P.Biswas
Dept. of Life Sciences, Dibrugarh University,
Assam- 786004, INDIA
I. Introduction
The study of length-weight relationship is of paramount importance in fishery science, as it assists in
understanding the general well being and growth patterns in a fish population. According to Bashir et al. (1993)
the length-weight relationship of fish varies depending upon the condition of life in aquatic environment. The
study of the condition factor is thus important for understanding the life cycle of a fish species and contributes to
adequate management of the fish species and, therefore, to the maintenance of equilibrium in the ecosystem.
Length-weight relationship is of great importance in fishery assessments (Garcia et al., 1998; Haimovici and
Velasco, 2000). The mathematical parameters of the relationship between the length and weight of fish furnish
further information on the weight variation of individuals in relation to their length (condition factor, K). This
factor estimates the general well-being of the individual and is frequently used in three cases: (a) Comparison of
two or more co-specific populations living in similar or different conditions of food, density or climate; (b)
Determination of period and duration of gonadal maturation and (c) Observation of increase or decrease in
feeding activity or population changes, possibly due to modifications in food resources.
Tetraodon cutcutia (Hamilton-Buchanan) is considered as a trash fish in the Indo-Gangetic basin. It belongs to
the family Tetraodontidae under order Tetraodontiformes. Commonly known as Gangatop in Assam, the species
is widely distributed throughout the plains of N.E. India, region and the fish is utterly neglected as it has no food
value. However, this is a potential aquarium fish. It is a small sized fish, measures about 6 to 9.2cm in length
(Nath and Dey, 2000). It mainly occurs in riverine habitats but also found in the beels (wetlands). Like other
parts of the Brahmaputra basin, T. cutcutia has a well established population at Neematighat and its adjoining
areas in Jorhat District of Upper Assam. The present communication deals with the length-weight relationship
of the species.
II. Material and methods
Samples were collected from Neematighat of Jorhat district. Monthly samplings were carried out from April
2011 through March 2013. The specimens were measured to the nearest cm and weighted to the nearest gm. The
length-weight relationship was based on 285 specimens collected during the study period.
Length-weight relationship of T. cutcutia was calculated following Le Cren (1951) -W=aLb
, where W= weight,
L= length and ‘a’ and ‘b’ are initial growth and growth coefficient respectively. The values of constant a and b
were estimated from log transformation values of length and weight:-Log W = log a + b log L. The correlation
coefficient (r) was also estimated to determine the degree of linear relationship between the length and weight of
samples. For estimation of general well being of the fish, ponderal index or condition (K) factor was used.
Condition factor (K) was calculated from the expression (Bagenal, 1978): K=100W/L3
where, W is the whole
body weight in gm and L the total length in cm.
Abstract: The length-weight relationship and condition factor for Tetraodon cutcutia were carried out
from Neematighat of Jorhat district of Assam between April, 2011and March, 2013. This paper throws light
on the changes in the ponderal index (K) and growth coefficient (b), (length-wise, month-wise and
seasonally). Length-weight relationship and relative condition factor (K) for a sample size of 285
specimens were calculated on monthly basis. A wide fluctuation in growth coefficient (b) in the fishes was
observed. The ‘b’ value ranged from 1.13-2.33 in male and 2.362-7.048 in female; seasonally the b value
varied from 0.476 (pre-monsoon) to 1.622 (post-monsoon) in case of male and 0.98 (winter) to 3.086
(monsoon) in female. Similarly, the K value ranged from 3.864 (monsoon) to 6.279 (winter) in male and
from 3.196 (pre-monsoon) to 3.628 (winter) in female.
Key words: Tetraodon cutcutia, length-weight relationship, condition factor, Assam.

2. P. Karmakar et al., American International Journal of Research in Formal, Applied & Natural Sciences, 6(2), March-May, 2014, pp. 143-
146
AIJRFANS 14-285; © 2014, AIJRFANS All Rights Reserved Page 144
Table1: Length-weight relationship and condition factor of Tetraodon cutcutia
Table 2: Seasonal variation of length-weight relationship and K-factor of T. cutcutia
Table 3: Month-wise length-weight relationship and K-factor in T. cutcutia
Month Sex K b LogW=Log a+b logL r
Jan M 6.695 0.822 Log-0.856+0.822 logL 0.96
F 4.502 1.082 Log-0.328+1.082 logL 0.95
Feb M 6.36 1.028 Log-0.14+1.028 logL 0.95
F 2.984 0.024 Log-5.857 + 0.024 logL 0.91
Mar M 4.67 2.872 Log-8.686+2.872 logL 0.69
F 3.08 1.75 Log-3.245+1.75 logL 0.92
Apr M 3.81 1.196 Log-0.63+1.196 logL 0.89
F 3.099 1.026 Log-1.207+1.026 logL 0.79
May M 4.35 1.09 Log-0.36+1.09 logL 0.82
F 3.485 1.976 Log-4.031+1.976 logL 0.69
June M 3.68 1.285 Log-0.938+1.285 logL 0.76
F 3.166 2.854 Log-9.521+2.854 logL 0.86
July M 3.82 1.28 Log-0.81+1.28 logL 0.81
F 3.845 3.386 Log-11.374+3.386 logL 0.82
Aug M 4.05 1.71 Log-3.10+1.71 logL 0.87
F 3.42 2.598 log-7.51+2.598 logL 0.83
Sept M 3.96 1.57 Log-2.44+1.57 logL 0.66
F 3.669 2.485 Log-5.506+2.485 logL 0.93
Oct M 4.36 1.32 Log-0.91+1.32 logL 0.90
F 3.328 1.054 Log-0.40+1.054 logL 0.69
Nov M 5.37 4.74 Log-6.29+4.74 logL 0.94
F 2.579 1.185 Log-0.204+1.185 logL 0.91
Dec M 5.77 1.17 Log-0.58+1.17 logL 0.98
F 3.539 1.082 Log-0.407+1.082 logL 0.96
Legend: r = Coefficient of correlation, K= condition factor, a =initial growth; b =growth coefficient
III. Results
The growth coefficient (b) values showed seasonal fluctuation. In case of male, it ranged from 1.13-2.33 and in
female it varied from 1.19-5.32 (Table-1). The b value was found lowest (0.476) in pre-monsoon and highest
(1.622) in post-monsoon for male (Table 2) whereas in female it ranged from 0.986 (winter) to 3.086
(monsoon). The value in male was recorded minimum (0.822) in January and that of maximum (4.74) in
November in male while in female the minimum value (0.024) was observed in February and that of maximum
(3.386) in July (Table3). The condition factor (K) value, growth coefficient (b) and coefficient of correlation (r)
value were calculated sex wise and seasonally. The K value ranged from 2.66-6.722 in case of males whereas it
ranged from 2.362-7.048 in female specimens (Table 1). Seasonally, the value ranged from 3.864 (monsoon) to
6.279 (winter) in male and from 3.196 (pre-monsoon) to 3.628 (winter) in female (Table 2). Incidentally, K
value was recorded highest in January in both the sexes (Table 3).
Length
group
(cm)
Sex K b Log W=Log a+ b log L r
2.5-3.5 M 5.271 1.13 Log -3.642+1.13 log L 0.65
3.5-4.5 M 6.722 1.83 Log -2.962+1.83 log L 0.65
4.5-5.5 M 4.38 1.70 Log -2.734+1.7 log L 0.37
5.5-6.5 M 3.227 2.33 Log -7.027+2.329 log L 0.62
6.5-7.5 M 2.66 1.88 Log -2.561+1.879 log L 0.04
3-4.5 F 7.048 1.19 Log -0.325+1.19 log L 0.69
4.5-6 F 4.071 3.25 Log -11.183+3.252 log L 0.60
6-7.5 F 3.09 2.74 Log -9.04+ 2.74 log L 0.43
7.5-9 F 2.362 5.32 Log -3.52+5.32 log L 0.53
9-10.5 F 2.611 2.93 Log -0.923+2.932 log L 0.49
Season Sex K b Log W=Log a+ b log L r
Winter
(Dec-Feb)
M 6.279 0.986 Log-0.173+0.986 log L 0.95
F 3.628 0.98 Log -0.223+0.98 log L 0.95
Pre-monsoon (Mar-
May)
M 4.221 0.476 Log-3.101+0.476 log L 0.83
F 3.196 1.297 Log-0.142+1.297 log L 0.72
Monsoon
(Jun-Aug)
M 3.864 1.307 Log-0.985+1.307 log L 0.81
F 3.479 3.086 Log-3.31+3.086 log L 0.82
Post-monsoon (Sept-
Nov)
M 4.452 1.622 Log-2.584+1.622 log L 0.84
F 3.357 2.837 Log-9.358+2.837 log L 0.74

3. P. Karmakar et al., American International Journal of Research in Formal, Applied & Natural Sciences, 6(2), March-May, 2014, pp. 143-
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AIJRFANS 14-285; © 2014, AIJRFANS All Rights Reserved Page 145
The coefficient of correlation (r) ranged from 0.04-0.65 in males and from 0.43-0.69 in females (Table 1).
Seasonally, r varied from 0.81 (monsoon) to 0.95 (winter) in male specimens (Table2) and that of female, it
fluctuated between 0.72 (pre-monsoon) and 0.95 (winter). The coefficient was very high in December for both
males and females (Table 3).
IV. Discussion
Arslan et al. (2004) stated that it is usually easier to measure length than weight and weight can be predicted
later on using the length-weight relationship. In this study variability was found between the exponent (b) and
condition factor. These differences might have been caused by the methods of measurement, and/or seasonal
fluctuations, or variability in sampling. According to Le Cren (1951) the variation in ‘b’ value is due to
environmental factors, seasons, food availability, sex, life stage and other physiological factors. The length-
weight relationship of T. cutcutia exhibits highly positive correlation. A characteristic of length-weight
relationship in fishes is that the value of the exponent (b) is 3 when growth is isometric (without changing
shape). If b value is different from 3, growth is said to be allometric (fish changes shape as it grows larger). The
variations in fish sizes indicate that the fish population ranged from immature specimens to fully matured ones.
This also suggests differences in their growth (Forta et al., 2004). Fish specimens of a given length, exhibiting
higher weight are said to be in better condition (Anyanwu et al., 2007). The ‘b’ values of T. cutcutia exhibited
allometric growth. Allometric growth may be negative (b<3) or positive (b>3). According to Wooton (1992)
allometric growth is negative if the fish gets relatively thinner as it grows larger and positive if it gets plumber
as it grows. In biological studies, L-W relationships enable seasonal variations in fish growth to be followed and
the calculation of condition indexes (Richter et al. 2000). In the present study, a high correlation value (r)
between length-weight of T. cutcutia indicate a strong associationship between these body parameters.
The condition factor is an indicator of the environmental suitability for the resource. In this study variability was
found between the exponent (b) and means of condition factors (K). These differences might have been caused
by the methods of measurements, and/or seasonal fluctuations or variability in sampling (Safran 1992). The
condition factor helps in the study of functional relationship between length and weight and the well-being of
the fish. The condition factor of fishes influenced by a number of factors such as the onset of maturity (Hoda,
1987), spawning (De-Silva and Silva, 1979; Al-Daham and Wahab, 1991), sex and maturity (Gowda et al.,
1987; Doddamani and Shanbouge 2001) and pollution (Bakhoum, 1999 and Devi et al., 2008). The condition
factor (K) reflects, through its variations, information on the physiological state of the fish in relation to its
welfare. However, condition factor also showed variability that might have been caused by several
environmental and physiological factors. Bakare (1970) and Fagade (1979) opined that condition factor
decreased with increase in length. Similarly, Welcome (1979) viewed that K- factor influenced the reproductive
cycle in fish.
V. References
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VI- Acknowledgement
Authors are grateful to the Head, Dept. of Life Sciences, Dibrugarh University, Assam, India for giving necessary permission to carry out
the study.