A study on feeds and feeding behaviour of soldier river barb (Cyclocheilichthys enoplos) in the Mekong Basin, Nong Khai Province
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A Study on Feeds and Feeding Habits of the Soldier River Barb (Cyclocheilichthys enoplos) in the Mekong river, Nong Khai Province. Fish samples were collected from June 2021 to May 2022, covering a period of 12 months. A total of 32 fish were collected (n=32), comprising 9 males and 23 females. The average length of the sampled fish was 60.98 ± 5.60 cm, ranging from 49 to 75 cm. The average body weight was 2.94 ± 1.22 kg, ranging from 1.2 to 6.5 kg. The relationship between fish length and weight was represented by the equation W = 0.0000005 L3.7824, with a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.7816. The ratio of fish length to the mean length of the digestive tract was 1:1.14 ± 0.13. The relationship between fish length (Lt) and digestive tract length (Li) was described by the equation Li = 0.5395 Lt1.180, with a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.4951. The stomach exhibited a small and straight shape. The average stomach fullness and food weight were 1.25 and 6.56 g (0.22 % of body weight), respectively. The primary food items found in the stomach contents included hydra (23.26 %), insect larvae (22.07 %), mollusks (20.12 %), macroalgae (17.11 %), phytoplankton (10.29 %), fish (6.87 %), and shrimp (0.27 %). Analysis of the Index of Relative Importance (IRI) indicated that macroalgae had the highest IRI value (IRI=2793.21), followed by mollusks (IRI=2632.19), hydra (IRI=2255.74), and insect larvae (IRI=1625.21). In conclusion, this study suggests that the soldier river barb is an omnivore that also exhibits predator behavior.
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