LENGTH–WEIGHT RELATIONSHIP AND CONDITION FACTOR OF Cyprinus carpio FROM SKADAR LAKE (MONTENEGRO) DURING SPAWNING PERIOD

The present study investigates the length-weight relationship (LWR) of the carp (Cyprinus carpio) in Skadar Lake, Montenegro. The samples for the study were collected from Skadar Lake during the spawning period. The value of the exponent ‘b’ in the LWR was equal or less than 3 (2.72 to 3.05). LWR in five groups (juveniles, mature males, mature females, males and females after spawning) of carp showed negative allometric and isometric (juveniles = 3.02, mature females = 3.05) growth patterns. Estimates of the average condition factor (K) ranged from 1.12 as shown by the male after spawning, to 1.35 as shown by the mature female. Significant differences were found between juveniles and males and females after spawning and between males and females after spawning. There was no difference in K between mature males and females. The mature females gonosomatic index (GSI) ranged from 8.1 to 24.5. The coefficient of correlation between K and GSI was not significant in mature females. No significant differences were found in the ratio between sexes from the hypothetical distribution of 1:1 (P 0.05). The study presented here represents an additional contribution to the better understanding of biology of C. carpio from Skadar Lake. Moreover, our research provides the first references on LWR and K for the C. carpio from Skadar Lake.