The Seasonal Food Habits of Oreochromis niloticus (Osteichthys: Siluriformes) in the Ikpoba Reservior, Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

Stomach contents of 424 adult and juvenile Oreochromis niloticus netted from the Ikpoba Reservoir were analysed. Phytoplankton formed the dominant food items of the fish during the dry and wet months of the sampling period. Zooplankton population in the fish diet was more pronounced during the wet months. Blue green algae were found most frequently in the stomach of the fish followed by Diatoms and Green algae. Zooplankton (Cladocera and Copepoda) occurred less frequently in the diet of adults than juvenile fish. There was significant difference (P < 0.05) between the volume of food recorded in the fish stomachs during the dry and wet months of the year. Food abundance and feeding activity was heaviest during the dry than the wet months. The predominance of a wide variety of planktonic organisms in the fish stomachs suggested planktiphagous feeding habits.

Journal of Aquatic Sciences Volume 14, April 1999, pp. 33-36




KEY WORDS:

Oreochromis niloticus, Ikpoba Reservoir, Stomach Contents.