Abstract:
Channa lucius is known as snakehead fish and has high economical value
in Riau. This fish commonly occur in flood areas in Riau, including the Tapung
Kiri River flood area. A study aims to understand the types of food and feeding
habit of that fish has been conducted in February to July 2012. Ninety fishes (160
– 450 mm TL and 45-1150 gr) were collected and they were measured (TL, SL
and BW). Their stomach fullness were noted and their stomach content was
analyzed to find out the Preponderance Index (PI) based on Natarajan and
Jhingran (1961). Results shown that C. lucius has cacine type teeth, elastic
pharynk muscle, thick stomach muscle and short intestine. C. lucius prey on
small fishes, insects, insect larvae, red crab and worm. The most preferred food
was fish (PI 70,05%), followed by (PI 24,1), (PI 2,87%) (PI 2,87% and (PI
0,11%). Based on the character of digestive tract and type of food identified, it
can be concluded that C. Lucius is a pure carnivorous fish.
