FOOD AND FEEDING HABITS OF BAY AD FISH BAGRUS BAJAD (FORSSKAL, 1775) IN El-NOZHA HYDRODROME, ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT

Abstract

In order to elucidate the food and feeding habits of Bagrus bajed fish, stomach contents of 188 specimens with total body length ranging from 22 to 71cm were examined. Samples were collected monthly during the period from July 2000 to December 2001 from the commercial catch of El-Nozha Hydrodrome. The results of relative gut index indicated that B. bajed is carnivore. The range of its food material is wide, including cichiid species (Oreochromis niloticus, Oreochromis aureus, Sarotherodon galilaeus and Tilapia zillii), mullets ( Mugil cephalus and Liza ramada ), Clarias garlepinus, fish eggs, amphipods (Corophium volutator), shrimps ( Leander serratus) , aquatic insects (chironomid larvae and Coleoptera), vegetable matter and detritus. The maximum feeding intensity was in spring, while the lowest was in winter. Seasonal variation in the diet composition of B bajed revealed that fish prey was the main food item eaten throughout the year except in spring, where it represents the second important food item- after crustaceans. Variation in food species with fish length revealed an increase in the percentage of fish prey in the diet of this species. The diversity in diet of B. bajed, revealed low values in spring increasing in autumn and winter to reach the maximum in summer. Selectivity coefficient for fish prey group of B. bajed showed that cichiid species were negatively selected (-0.08), while the positively selected fishes were Clarias gariepinus (+0^57) and mullets (+ 0.29).