FOOD AND FEEDING HABIT OF A TELEOSTEAN FISH Glossogobius gutum (HAMILTON,1822) IN YAMUNA RIVER AT MAKHDUMPUR, JEHANABAD, BIHAR, INDIA

The present study deals with the study of food and feeding habits of a fresh water teleostean gobiid fish Glossogobius gutum (Ham.) in Yamuna river at Makhdumpur, Jehanabad. The intensive and extensive study on gut content analysis revealed the presence of a wide variety of food items in their gut. The fishes , unidentified animal matters (UAMs.) , crustaceans , insects and their larvae and molluscs were the major food items whereas , the debris , mucous and algae were present in trace quantities . The Gastro - Somatic Index (GSI) showed variation which was varied from 2.11 to 3.40 in large (12.1-16 cm ) and small size (5-8 cm ) length group of fishes respectively. The feeding intensity showed month wise fluctuation with slight rise and fall , which were maximum (3.50) in the month of October and minimum (2.10) in the month of July through the observation of Gastro-Somatic-Index. A direct relationship was recorded between feeding intensity and condition factor (K). The RLG values were varied between 0.38 (Length group I) to 0.50 (Length group III). On the basis of gut content analysis and their RLG value it showed that the fishes are carnivore bottom feeder and highly cannibalistic in nature.