HEMATOLOGIC METRICS OF WESAFUops, A CICHLID FROM LAGOS, NIGERIA

Very little information exists on the physiology of Wesafu, a cichlid fish believed to belong to the Tilapia zilli complex, of Epe lagoon, situated in Lagos Nigeria. This study examined and determined the results of hematological metrics of twenty-five subjects of the species in captivity. Results obtained include haematocrit [14.91%], Red Blood cell count [1.33 M/mm3], Mean corpuscular Volume [119.3±5.74 fl.], Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin [47.7±26.9 pg.], Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration [44.47±5.51], Complete White Blood Cell count [125.16±49.m/mm3], Differential White Blood Cell counts [Lymphocytes: 99.7%; Granulocytes: 0.06%; Monocytes: 0.175% and Thrombocytes: 203.3 m/mm3 of young specimens of this ecotype fish [n=25], maintained on an experimental farm. Data obtained will be useful in the evaluation of the health status of this fish under conditions of intensive culture, just as it will in a natural environment.