Growth, Feeding and condition of the fork-tailed catfish Arius graeffei Kner & Steindachner (Pisces : Ariidae) from the Clarence River, New South Wales

Abstract

Both sexes of A. graeffei have similar length-weight relationships and mature at approximately the same size. Relative condition factor decreased in winter when water temperatures dropped to minimum. Feeding activity in females decreased before spawning, and males ceased feeding while brooding eggs and larvae. Gonadal maturation and buccal incubation were associated with decreases in stored visceral fat and hepatosomatic ratio, respectively.