Food habits of silver carp and big head carp in hquaculture dams in winter

ABSTRACT

Analysis of intestinal contents of silver carp [Hypothalmicthys molitrix] and big head carp [Aristicthys nobilis] were made to know the feeding habits. It showed that silver carp primarily consumed phytoplanktons and few zooplanktons while big head carp consumed larger quantities of phytoplanktons, due to low density of zooplanktons in dam water and also because of the low water temperatures in winters. The temperature during December 2001 to January 2002 ranging from 22°C to 25°C. In silver carp the phytoplanktons identified were present in following percentages Volvox 30%, Microspora 17%, Chlamydomonas 8.7%, Ulothrix 6.5%, Scenedesmus 6.1%, Synedra, Dictyosphaerium, Euglena spp. 4.3%, Coccochloris 2.1%, and zooplanktons were identified to be Enteroplea spp. 6.5%, Branchionus 2.1%, Lecane 2.1%. In big head carp the phytoplanktons identified were in following percentages Spirogyra 34%, Microspora 26%, Spirulina 13%, Synedra 13%, Ulothrix 8.6% and Pinnularia 4.3%. None of the zooplanktons were identified from the gut contents of big head carps