Morphometric, growth and condition factor variations of Boleophthalmus boddarti in the Mekong delta, Vietnam

Abstract

The sympatric mudskipper Boleophthalmus boddarti is a commercial fish, but its body shape, condition and growth characteristics have been little known. This study aims to determine the morphometric measurements, condition factor and growth patterns of Boleophthalmus boddarti based on fish specimens collected from May 2014 to April 2015 in the Mekong Delta. The male B. boddarti to females ratio was not significantly different between wet and dry seasons (P>0.05). Both total length (8.1–17.0 cm) and body weight (4.96–54.33 g) females were not significantly different from that of males (8.2–16.5 cm for total length and 3.62–43.76 g for body weight, P>0.05). This mudskipper showed isometric growth as its slope value (b) estimated from the length-weight regression was close to the threshold of three (P>0.05). The length-weight relationship of this species did not vary with gender and season (P>0.05). The condition factor of B. boddarti was close to well-being value of one and not varied with season, fish-size and gender (P>0.05 for all cases). Boleophthalmus boddarti adapted well and can become a potential fish for future aquaculture in the study site. The result of this study can expand to other mudskippers in monsoonal regions.