Food selection by Labeo Rohita (Ham.) and its feeding relationship with other major carps

Selectivity of food byLabeo rohita (Ham.) was studied in a stocking pond (Moat), by calculating an Electivity index (E) for each food organism as described byIvlev (1961). It was found thatL. rohita was definitely selective in its feeding. In case of fingerlings, there was a strong selection for zooplanktonic organisms (Arcella andDifflugia among protozoans,Keratella andBrachionus among rotifer andDaphnia andCyclops among crustaceans) and smaller algae (Cosmarium andClosterium among desmisd,Euglena andVolvox among phytoflagellates and algal spores and zygotes) while most of the phytoplanktonic organisms, belonging to green algae, diatoms and blue green algae, were avoided. In case of adults, a strong negative selection was observed for all zooplanktonic organisms and a strong positive selection for most of the green algae and diatoms (Ankistrodesmus, Zygnema, Spirogyra, Selenastrum, Pediastrum, Scenedesmus, Tetraspora, Stephanodiscus, Naviculla, Diatoma, Synedra andNitzchia). However, all blue green algae were avoided.The feeding relationship ofL. rohita with other major carps,Cirrhina mrigala (Ham.) andCatla catla (Ham.) was studied in two different habitats, pond and river. It was observed that in both habitats all three species were found to feed on almost similar types of food organisms, but the quantity of any food item eaten by adults differed markedly from one species to another and the food items which were dominant in one species, were of secondary importancce for the other two species. The adults ofL. rohita were found to feed mainly on phytoplankton and macrovegetation, the main food of adultC. mrigala was decayed organic matter, sand and mud supplimented by plankton, while the food of adultC. catla was chiefly composed of zooplankton, and some phytoplankton. Hence there was no true identity of feeding habits between the adults of any two species. However, there was an indication of competition for food between the fingerlings of all three species, because all of them feed mainly on zooplankton (Crustaceans, rotifers and protozoans). However, such feeding habits lasted a very short time only and as the fishes grew, their feeding habits diverged.