FOOD AND FEEDING HABITS OF A FRESH WATER CATFISH MYSTUS VITTATUS (BLOCH.) IN THE GHAGHRA BELT OF EASTERN U.P.

摘要

The Food and feeding habits of Mystus vittatus were studied based on analysis of the gut contents.The fresh water catfish Mystus vittatus (Bloch.) were collected from Ghaghra river systems (U.P.) during April 2007 - March 2008 to study their food andfeeding habits. Throughout the period of observation, 912 guts were examined, of which 771 were found to contain food and rest 141 guts were empty. The food items differ from month to month. The food constituents were analyzed and discussed. The fish isomnivorous bottom feeder. It mainly feeds on Copepods, Insect, Insect larvae, Crustacean larvae, Rotifers, Eggs of invertebrates, Daphnids, Cypris, Algae, Sand and mud. Fish fry and Unidentified food items. Most of the anatomical characters viz., moderate built jaws, thin canine and weak vomarine teeth, less and moderately long gill rakers and moderately long and few coils in intestine indicated that M vitattus is an omnivorous fish. M vittatus was categorized under bottom feeders due to the occurrenceof detritusXincIuding sand) and filamentous algae in the gut. The feeding intensity is maximum during monsoon and winter months and minimum in summer. '