Stomach content analysis of Trichogaster leeri captured from flood area of the Tapung River and the FAPERIKA Dam

Abstract

A study aims to understand the stomach content of Trichogaster leeri captured from the flood area of the Tapung River (TR) and the FAPERIKA dam has been conducted on April to June 2012. The fish was sampled using a scoop nets. Stomach content was analyzed to find out the Preponderance Index (PI) of each type of food (Natarjan and Jhingran, 1961). Results shown that the diet of fish from both sampling site was similar, the most prefferred food was Chlorophyta (PI TR 75,52 PI dam 49,55), followed by Cyanophyta (PI TR 8,03 PI dam 30,63 ), Bacillariophyta (PI TR 1,15 PI dam 1,80 ), Rotifera (PI TR 4,59 PI dam 9,64 ), Insecta (PI TR 6,13 PI dam 17,62 ), and Crustacea (PI TR 2,11 PI dam 18,01)There was difference in insect consumption, as fish from the FAPERIKA dam eat more insect. In fish of the same size, fish from the FAPERIKA dam have more body weight. It indicates that the protein rich insect diet may positively affects the growth of fish in the dam.