FOOD HABITS OF THE SMALLMOUTH YELLOWFISH, BARBUS HOLUBI, IN WURAS DAM, A SHALLOW, TURBID IMPOUNDMENT

Abstract

Analysis of 386 foreguts of Barbus holubi from Wuras Dam showed that it is a particulate feeder on a variety of organisms such as filamentous algae, macrophytes, zooplankton and terrestrial insects. Plant material became the dominant food item in fish over 250 mm in length. The dominant size group (155–204 mm fork length) fed mainly on zooplankton during periods of low water level but after flooding terrestrial insects, macrophytes and zooplankton became more prominent in the diet. The results generally substantiate the findings of other authors on the food habits of this species.