Some Aspects of Oreochromis niloticus baringoensis (Trewavas, 1983) Fishery Assessment and Influence of Selected Water Quality Parametersin the Hot Springs of Lorwai Swamp, Baringo, Kenya

Abstract

Water quality has been documented to affect the biology and well-being offish. This study therefore investigatedsome aspects ofOreochromisniloticusbaringoensis(Trewavas, 1983) fishery assessment andthe influence ofselectedwater qualityparametersintwo hot springs draining into LorwaiSwamp; Lake Bogoria Spa spring and Chelaba spring between the months ofJuly and August2018. A total of 445 fish were collected; 244 from LakeBogoria Spa spring and 201 from Chelaba spring using a seine net. LengthWeightRelationship (LWR)was determined using Le Cren’s equation;W=aTLband Fulton’s condition factor(k)determined using Ricker’sequation; 100W/L3.TheLWR results indicatedan isometricgrowth for fishfrom both springs.The mean (± SD) k-values forfish in Lake Bogoria Spaspring were 2.02±0.25for the males, 2.02±0.27 for the females and2.00±0.26for both sexes. In Chelaba spring,the mean k-values were2.03±0.21for the males, 1.97±0.25for the females and 2.00±0.23for bothsexes. These values indicated that the fish in these hot springs are in a verygood condition and health status with k-values above 1.Some of the selectedwater quality parameters indicated a positive correlation with the length,weight and Fulton’s condition factorofO. n.baringoensisin the two hotsprings.