Seasonal Variation in Proximate Composition of Some Selected Fishes (Auchenogianis occidentalis, Tilapiagalilaea, Tilapia zillii, Alestes dentex and Chrysichthys auratus): A Case Study of Tagwai Lake Minna, Nigeria

Abstract

Comparative analysis of the proximate composition of five species of fish; Auchenogianis occidentalis, Tilapia galilaea, Tilapia zillii, Alestes dentex and Chrysichthys auratus, collected from Tagwai lake, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria was carried out from February to August, 2015. The moisture, ash, crude protein, lipid and carbohydrate content of the fillets were done in the department of Water Resources, Aquaculture and Fisheries Technology laboratory, Federal university of technology Minna. The proximate compositions were carried out using standard procedures. Auchenogianis ocidentalis, Tilapia galilaea, Tilapia zillii, Alestes dentex and Chrysichthys auratus, did not exhibit significant differences in their seasonal variation in proximate composition within the sampling period. All the fish species examined were rich sources of pr otein, moisture, lipid, ash and carbohydrate. They belonged to the high-protein (10-23%), high moisture and low-oil (<5%, except Alestes dentex) category. They also meet the requirement for human nutritional needs. The two major constituents, crude protein and carbohydrate showed high seasonal variation (p<0.05) in Alestes dentex during the study period. The highest protein value (23.19%) was found in February and the lowest value (10.50%) in July. The highest carbohydrate value (21.84%) was found in March and the lowest (0.30%) in July