Study on Feeding Habit of Clariid Catfish (Clarias Gariepinus Burchell, 1822) in River Otamiri South-Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

A survey was conducted to investigate the feeding habit of catfish (Clarias gariepinus Burchell, 1822) in Otamiri River, South-Eastern Nigeria. Stomach items analyzed include mainly algae, fish scales, annelids, benthic invertebrates, and detritus confirmed the fish as omnivorous species. However, few stomach contents contained tadpoles and plant seeds. Chironomids and Chaoborus larvae occurred most frequently with fish scales and sand in the stomachs examined indicating that C. gariepinus are bottom feeders. There was a divergence in the range of feed items from algae at juvenile stage (6 ≤ 15 cm, SL) through a carnivorous phase at adult stage (15.1≤30 cm, SL) feeding on annelids, gastropods and benthic invertebrates.