A Study On The Feeding Ecology Of Clarias Batrachus (Linn., 1758) And Anabas Testudineus (Bloch, 1752).

The experiment was conducted for a period of two years from January 1984 to December, 1985, to study the feeding ecology of Clarias batrachus (Linn,.) and Anabas testudineus (Bloch) along with composition, seasonal abundance and depth distribution of organisms such as phytoplankton, zooplankton and benthos in a pond of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. Twentynine genera of phytoplankton, thirty genera of and twentyfive genera of benthos were recorded and standard error and relative percent abundance Generally the different genera and species of phytoplankton, zooplankton, and benthos showed their peak of Abundances in different months. In both the years, various genera and species were zooplankton their mean, determined. of phytoplankton, zooplankton and benthos were directly or inversely correlated with one another. Twentyfive available genera of phytoplankton showed highly significant combined effects on the abundance of 24 genera and species of benthic fauna and 30 available genera and species of zooplankton. The combined effect of 30 genera and species of zooplankton on the abundance of 24 available genera and species of benthos were recorded which was highly significant. The interrelationships among the various genera and species of benthos and the different genera and species of phytoplankton showed good correlations. To study the food and feeding habits of Anabas testudineus, a total of 279 stonachs of this fish were examined 9 out of which empty. Feeding 184 were found with food, and 95 were found intensity was highest in February and lowest in April and May. The food itens taken by the fish varied from month to month and season to season. Average index of fullness was highest in February and lowest in July in first year whilst in second year the highest value of the same was recorded in September and lowest in April. Analyses of the gut contents revealed that the fish has multiple choice of food preferences out of which plant debris and insects were the most important food items. of the fishes To study the food and feeding habits of Clarias batrachus a total of 269 stomachs were examined out of which 190 were found with food and 79 with out food.. Feeding intensity was highest in February in the first year and August and October in the second year. Average index of fullness was highest in February lowest in July in the first year. But in year the value of and the sane was recorded highest in August and lowest in May.of fullness was highest in August and lowest in May. Analyses of the gut contents of 269 fishes revealed that the fish has has a wide range of food preference of of which insects naterial and organic debris were the most important food itens of this food.