1. Indian J. Anim. Res., 41 (4) : 266-269, 2007
FOOD AND FEEDING HABITS OF CATLA CATLA (HAMILTON -
BUCHANAN) FROM DAYA RESERVOIR, UDAIPUR, RAJASTHAN
Raj Kumar*, B.K. Sharma and L.L. Sharma
Department of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries,
MPUAT, Udaipur-313001, India
ABSTRACT
In the present study, an attempt has been made to investigate the food and feeding habits of the
Indian major carp, Catla catla from Daya reservoir, Udaipur. On the basis of qualitative and
quantitative analysis of gut contents, Catla catla has been categorised as planktivorous. Gastrosomatic
indices were found to be higher during winter months as compared to summer.
INTRODUCTION Jhingran (1991) has summarised the
In general, growth of a fish is feeding habits of several Indian species viz.,
influenced by the quality and quantity of food Catla catla, Cirrhinus mrigala,
materials available and consumed. Thus, any Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and Puntius
variation in quality and quantity of food species. Yadav (1997) reported the food and
m t r a sw l a f c g o t r t o t ef s . T e
aeil il fet rwh ae f h ih h feeding habits of Catla catla and Labeo rohita.
q a i a i ea dq a t t t v v r a i n o n t r l
ulttv n uniaie aitos f aua Panicker (2000) recorded the food and feeding
food materials in a water body are under the habits of several important fish species including
influence of several abiotic and biotic factors. Catla catla and Labeo rohita from Chulliar and
These variations could be known by qualitative Malampuzha reservoirs of Kerala. Selvaraj et
and quantitative analysis of gut contents of a al. (2000) conducted the study on the food and
fish and/or by the estimation of gastrosomatic feeding habits of several important fishes of
idx
ne. Thirumoorthy reservoir. Hatikakoty and Biswas
Food and feeding habits of carps have (2003) reported the food and feeding habits
been a field of interest to fisheries researchers of Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters) in
since very long. Natarajan and Jhingran (1961) relation to seasonal changes and gonadal
studied the food habits of Catla catla and maturity from a small pond situated in upper
reported a zooplankton dominated food Assam. Ujjania (2003) studied the
preference for the fish. Hora and Pillay (1962) Gastrosomatic index of Catla catla, Labeo
reported the feeding habits of Catla catla. Khan rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala from Mahi Bajaj
and Jhingran (1975) have given a report on sagar, Surwania dam and Aasan pond of
the food and feeding habits of an Indian major Southern Rajasthan.
carp Labeo rohita (Ham). Rajgopal (1978) MATERIAL AND METHODS
described the foods and feeding habits of some In order to study the food and feeding
commercial fishes from the Tungabhadra habits of Catla catla, samples were collected
reservoir. Sunder et al. (1990) studied the food from the commercial catches during fishing year
and feeding habit of the Cyprinus carpio var. 2004-2005 at landing centre of Daya reservoir.
specularis from Dal Lake (Kashmir) in relation All the fish specimens were weighed separately
to gastrosomatic index, condition factor and and then gutted for the collection of gut
length-weight of fish and reported that the contents. The collected guts were weighed and
monthly fluctuations in feeding activity and their contents emptied in the watch glass. The
gastrosomatic index (GaSI) is in agreement with same were analysed qualitatively as well as
each other. quantitatively by eye estimation volumetrically
*Present Address:- W 12/86, Pabagali, Chabutra Bazar, Udhampur (J&K) 182101, India

2. Vol. 41, No. 4, 2007 267
(Pillay, 1952) and occurrence method (Hynes, cladocerans and copepods in the diet of the
1950). For evaluating the relative importance species were Daphnia, Moina, Macrothrix,
of all food items, the index of preponderance Bosmina, Cyclops, Diaptomus, Nauplius larvae
(Natarajan and Jhingran, 1961) was obtained and Canthocampus. The rotifers were next in
using formula: the order of dominance forming 18.20 per cent
V1 OI by volume and 14.81 per cent by occurrence
I= x 100 in the gut contents of Catla catla. This group
VI OI was mainly respresented by Keratella,
Brachionus, Hexarthra, Trichocerca and Filina.
Where, Bacillariophyceae (diatoms) formed the next
I = Index of preponderance important item in the gut contents forming
VI = Volume percentage 15.45 per cent by volume and 7.40 per cent
OI = Occurrence percentage by occurrence. Amongst the Bacillariophyceae,
Ó = Summation the abundant genera were Fragilaria, Synedra,
Gastrosomatic Index (GaSI) was Pinnularia, Diatoma and Navicula. Aquatic
calculated using the formula given by Biswas insects and their instars formed 13.74 per cent
(1993): by volume and 11.11 per cent by occurrence.
Chlorophyceae (green algae and desmids)
Weight of gut (g)
group also formed a part of gut content
GaSI (%) = x 100
constituting only 9.30 per cent by volume and
Weight of fish (g)
9.26 per cent by occurrence. The major genera
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION of Chlorophyceae in the diet of the species were
Composition of gut contents Pediastrum, Cosmarium, Gonatozygon,
Various food items and their Hydrodictyon, Protococcus and Coelastrum.
percentage composition (by volume and Percentage of Myxophyceae (blue green algae)
occurrence) found in the gut of Catla catla are in the gut contents of species were 8.12 per
enumerated in Table 1. The Table 1 also shows cent by volume and 5.56 per cent by
the preponderance indices of different food occurrence. In Myxophyceae, the major genera
items observed in the guts of the species. were Nostoc, Polycystis, Anabaena, and
Crustaceans (cladocerans and Aphanizomenon.Remnants of macrovegetation
copepods) formed the main item of gut contents were next in the order of occurrence and
forming 28.19 per cent by volume and 41.89 represented 5.67 per cent by volume and 6.19
per cent by occurrence. The major genera of per cent by occurrence. These plant remnants
TABLE 1 : Grading of various food items of gut contents in Catla catla from Daya reservoir, Udaipur
Food items % composition of items by VI OI Index of preponderance Grading
Volume(VI) Occurrence(OI) ’I’= VIOI x 100/ÓVIOI
Crustaceans 28.19 41.89 1180.879 62.520 I
Rtfr
oies 18.20 14.81 269.542 14.271 I
Iscs
net 13.74 11.11 152.651 8.082 I
I
I
Chlorophyceae 9.30 9.26 86.118 4.559 V
Bacillariophyceae 15.45 7.40 114.330 6.053 IV
Myxophyceae 8.12 5.56 45.147 2.390 VI
Plant material 5.67 6.19 35.097 1.858 VI
I
Decayed organic matter 1.33 3.78 5.027 0.266 IX
VIOI = 1888.791

3. 268 INDIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL RESEARCH
TABLE 2 : Gastrosomatic Index (GaSI) of Catla catla from Daya reservoir, Udaipur
Fish S.No. Winter season Summer season
Weight of fish (g) Weight of gut (g) GaSI Weight of fish (g) Weight of gut (g) GaSI
1 6750 164.32 2.434 4500 93.87 2.086
2 7000 170.00 2.429 6500 120.18 1.849
3 2600 67.69 2.603 3500 56.44 1.613
4 1900 37.42 1.969 2500 39.57 1.583
5 2200 59.16 2.689 1800 34.03 1.891
6 2900 74.08 2.554 2300 32.67 1.420
7 1700 32.98 1.940 5500 89.09 1.620
8 2500 52.06 2.083 4000 83.74 2.094
9 4500 87.31 1.940 4750 97.24 2.047
10 1900 36.45 1.918 1750 35.66 2.038
11 3000 69.07 2.302 2000 39.03 1.952
12 2600 48.50 1.865 2300 43.18 1.878
13 3000 80.09 2.670 3500 61.19 1.748
14 4200 70.55 1.680 3100 58.12 1.875
15 2500 46.03 1.841 2250 46.20 2.053
Mean 3283.333 2.194 3350.000 1.850
include the fragments of Typha. Decayed and reported it to consume primarily
semi-decayed organic matter constituted only phytoplankton and zooplankton, decayed
1.33 per cent by volume and 3.78 per cent by microvegetation and detritus. Yadav (1997),
occurrence. however, reported that the adult catla feed
Gastrosomatic index (GaSI) mainly on algae, crustaceans, some plants,
Gastrosomatic index (GaSI) of Catla rotifers and insects and hence he categoried
catla was calculated from the fish samples the same as a plankton feeder. The present
collected during winter and summer months observations are in consonance with those
only, November-February. and April-June for reported by earlier workers that the catla is
the study of feeding intensity because of the planktophagus and feeds primarily on
legal restrictions on fishing. The values of GaSI zooplankton.
were higher during winter months as compared Studies on gastrosomatic index (GaSI)
to summer months (Table 2). of Catla catla revealed that the feeding intensity
From the present study on the food remained high during winter months (non-
and feeding habits, it appears that the basic spawning period) and reduced during summer
months (pre-spawning period). It is reported
food of catla in Daya reservoir mainly
that generally during spawning season, feeding
comprised crustaceans (62.52%) and rotifers
rate would be relatively lower and it increases
(14.27%) followed by insects (8.082%),
immediately after spawning as the organisms
Bacillariophyceae (6.053%), Chlorophyceae
feed voraciously to recover from fast (Rao et
(4.559%), Myxophyceae (2.390%) and plant al. 1998). Low feeding rate during spawning
material (1.858%). The decayed organic has also been reported by Hatikakoty and
matter formed negligible (0.266%) amount of Biswas (2003). The findings of present study
the gut content. are in confirmation to the observations of Rao
Hora and Pillay (1962) assigned Catla et al. (1998) and Hatikakoty and Biswas
catla as a plankton and detritus feeder and (2003).

4. Vol. 41, No. 4, 2007 269
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT College of Agriculture, Udaipur for the
Authors are thankful to facilities provided to carry out this research
Dr.H.C.L.Gupta, Dean, Rajasthan work.
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