FEED AND FEEDING HABITS OF Oreochromis niloticus IN HAUREN SHANU BURROW PIT IN KANO CITY, NIGERIA

Abstract

A study on the Feed and Feeding Habits of Oreochromis niloticus in Hauren shanu Burrow Pit, Kano was carried
out where 300 fish specimens were analyzed out of which 134 (44%) had empty stomach while 166 (56%)
stomachs had food. Phytoplanktons mostly diatoms and algae accounted for 99% under frequency of occurrence
method and 23% by number followed by Zooplanktons with 95.7% by occurrence and 16.6% by number. Other
food items were Fish parts (68% by occurrence and 6.85% by number), Insect parts (69.8% by occurrence and
6.89% by number), Detritus (93.3% by occurrence and 17.6% by number) and Unidentified mass (28.9% by
number). Diatoms identified include Cyclotella comta, Cocconeis placentula, Synedra ulna, Pinnularia
microstauron, Ceratoneis arcus, Stauroneis phoenicenteron while Green algae identified include Chlorella
vulgaris, Spirogyra quinina, Zygnema stellinum, Scenedesmus quadricauda, Ostracoda (Cypridopsis). A fish’s
frequent habitat can be determined by the nature of food composition thus a variation in the seasonal abundance
of the favorite food organisms as well as the diurnal abundance may affect the horizontal and vertical movements
of the fish stocks. Hence for the production and exploitation of the fish stocks, an adequate knowledge of the
relationship between the fishes and food organisms is necessary.