FOOD AND FEEDING HABITS AND CONDITION FACTOR OF CLARIAS GARIEPINUS IN SAGBAMA RIVER BAYALSA STATE, NIGERIA
Abstract
AbstractThe food and feeding habit of the catfish Clarias gariepinus from Sagbama River, Bayelsa state, Nigeria was studied using 107 Clarias samples. Analysis of the stomach contents was done using numerical, frequency of occurrence and volumetric methods. Stomach content analysis of Clarias gariepinus from the Sagbama River showed an omnivorous diet dominated by phytoplankton (80.36 %) like Oscillatoria (27.08%), Pediastrum (24.51%), and zooplankton Cladocera (54.03%). Insect parts occurred in 4.76% of samples. Fish and crustacean parts indicated predation at 1.36% and 1.70% respectively. Detritus (2.72%), plants (1.70%), and sediments (10.88%) suggested benthic foraging. The condition factor increased from 0.89 (25-30cm class) to 1.13 (41-45cm class), with larger fish in better condition, results were not significant (p≥0.05). Results highlight Clarias gariepinus' feeding adaptations contributing to its success, but sediment ingestion warrants water quality monitoring for potential contaminant risks.
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