An experiment was carried out at the fish farming sector of the Universidade Federal de Lavras M.G., with the objective of establishing morphometric growth curves as a function of the body weight of piracanjuba (Brycon orbignyanus). Fingerlings of piracanjuba were cultivated in earthen ponds and fed a commercial diet (ad libitum) until they reached weight of about 1 kg. During the experimental period, samplings were randomly selected to take morphometric measures of the head length (CCAB), standard length (CP), height (AND), and breadth (LND), taken at the first ray of the dorsal fin. Measures and the morphometric ratios CCAB/CP, AND/CP, LND/CP, AND/LND were evaluated by Brody, von Bertalanffy, Gompertz and Logistic functions. All models showed a good fit for morphometric measures and the CCAB/CP ratio. Brody, von Bertalanffy and Gompertz functions presented similar fit qualities when studying morphometric measures while the Logistic function provided poor fit. However, the Logistic function presented better fit quality for the CCAB/CP ratio than the other functions. Growth rate of the variables CCAB and LND was higher than CP and AND, indicating a faster growth of head and breadth in relation to standard length and height. All models studied presented good fit, but the Brody and von Bertalanffy functions better described the morphometric growth of the fish.
Non-linear models; morphometric; piracanjuba
