FISH GUT ANALYSIS OF DEMERSAL FISH SPECIES OF DILAWARA RESERVOIR OF DHAR TEHSIL OF DHAR DISTRICT, MADHYA PRADESH

Dilawara reservoir of Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, India; an important drinking water source of Dhar tehsil is also widely used for fishculture besides irrigation and domestic purpose. In the present study, the demersal fish fauna of Dilawara Reservoir were selected for the gut content study and included species of catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis and Clarias batrachus), minor carps (Rasbora daniconius, Danio melaharicus, Puntisticto, P. sarana): fingerlings of major and common carp, snake head (Channa striatus, C. punctatus), one species of clupeide (Gadusia chapra) and one species of Mastocembalidae (Mastucembalus armatus). The selection of fish species was made on their feeding habits and their availability throughout the year. The food of demersal fish species of Dilawara Reservoir varied and diversified to include, mollusks, crustaceans, annelids, insects, snails, fish, macrophytes and various algae. Gut content analysis showed that most of the fish species preyed on zooplankton benthic animals except for fishes belonging to Family Clupeidae (Gudusia chapra) and minor carps. Their Stomach content analysis showed that macrophytes and algae were exclusively the dominant food items observed in their stomachs and were categorized as omnivorous