Strategies and Diet composition of Food and Feeding of Asian seabass Lates calcarifer from Krishna Estuarine Region, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

Fishes are the most attractive, nutritional and amazing form of aquatic life. Food is a significant factor in the ecology of fishes and required growth, reproduction and extensive migration. Food and feeding habits of fish is a helpful of fishery biology and culture aspects. The feeding strategies and diet composition of Asian seabass Lates calcarifer was observed from Krishna estuarine region during the January, 2014 to December, 2014. There was a preponderance of empty stomach recorded during all the months. Crustaceans (34%) and small fishes (22.0%) were the major components of the food item in the food spectrum of the fishes. Further items were mollusca (13%) and algae (9.5%) and also monthly fluctuations were also observed in the percentage occurrence of stomach with different degrees of fullness. It is evident that higher percentage of fullness of the stomach was recorded in pre-monsoon due to pre-spawning flattening process. The monthly Gastro Somatic index ranged from 2.2 to 5 and higher values were recorded in the month of June.