The Effect of Fish Size and Condition on the Contents of Twelve Essential and Non Essential Elements in Aristichthys nobilis

The correlation coefficients between fish size (body weight and total length) and metal contents (na, k, ca, mg, mn, fe, cu, zn, cr, co, cd and pb) in whole fish (aristichthys nobilis) were determined. a total of 71 fish samples were collected from hatcheries and fish reservoirs located in islamabad and fatehjung. highly significant (p<0.001) relationship between metal concentrations and fish size was found. most of the metals (na, k, ca, mg, cu, zn, cr, cd and pb) showed an isometric increase, while mn, fe and co showed an allometric increase in with increasing body weight. all metals showed isometric increase, while, na, mn, fe, cu, and co showed positive allometric growth in relation to total length. the correlation coefficient (r) between different variables and wet body weight, condition factor was found highly significant (p<0.001) in examined fish except for na, ca, cu, zn, cd and pb while for total length the same results found except ca, cd, zn and pb. variance inflation factor values of regression coefficients in multiple regression analysis for each variable were lesser than 10. the metal levels of the examined fish were lower than the recommended values in fish and fishery products set by fao.