Growth Performance, Feeding Ecology and Prey Preference of Bagrid Catfish, Mystus tengara (Hamilton, 1822) in Low Saline Polyculture Ponds of Indian Sundarbans

Abstract

Growth performances, feeding ecology and prey preferences of Must us tengara (Hamilton, 1822) reared in low saline homestead traditional polyculture ponds in Sundarbans were studied for 12 months. Mixed carp early fi ngerlings (4.98±0.61 cm, 1.09±0.26 g) @ 14000 nos ha-1 and wild collected mixed bagrid catfi sh juveniles (5.09±0.48 cm, 1.38±0.11 g) including M. tengara were stocked @ 5000 juveniles ha-1. Farm yard manure @ 200 kgha-1 was applied monthly and household dining wastes (11.37±2.08 kgha-1day-1) were thrown in the ponds almost daily following traditional practice. Fishes attained 31.56±2.08 g (13.92±0.88 cm) with specifi c growth rate of 0.95±0.15 % day-1 and exponent value of Length-Weight Relationship (b=2.99) indicated isometric growth. Numeric order of dominance of prey groups in water were Chlorophyceae, Myxophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, Insect parts and larvae, Copepods, Rotifers and Cladoceran, Fish parts and larvae, unidentifi ed materials and Crustacean parts. Whereas, order of dominance of prey groups in stomach were Insect parts and larvae, Copepods, Myxophyceae, Rotifers and Cladoceran, Fish parts and larvae, Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Crustacean parts and unidentifi ed materials. Prey electivity analysis indicated signifi cant active selection of Insect parts and larvae (E= +0.36±0.06) and Copepods (E= +0.30±0.12). Crustacean parts, Rotifers and Cladocera and Fish parts and larvae were also positively selected but were not signifi cant. This study reveals that M. tengara is a carnivorous fi sh mostly preferring Insect larvae and Copepods. M. tengara can be added in low saline polyculture ponds to improve profi tability and can be considered as a biological tool for Insect control.

Culture technique of Tengra (Mystus vittatus) with short cycle fish species in the drought prone northern region of Bangladesh

“…The results revealed that the final weight, weight gain, SGR, and survival were inversely related to stocking density. The present results coincide with the findings of (Mondal et al, 2017) who obtained the best growth in gulsha farming at lower stocking densities. The lowest stocking densities are expected to provide more space, food, and less competition (Ahamed et al, 2018).…”

“…(Ahamed et al, 2018). Comprehensive scientific studies are documented on the monoculture of M. gulio, which is primarily grown in coastal waters, in tide-fed brackish water ponds (CIBA 2015;Hossain et al, 2018;Lal, Jaya, and Sherly 2016;Mondal and Mitra 2016;, polyculture with tilapia-Oreochromis niloticus, mullet-Rhinomugil corsula, climbing perch-Anabas testudineus and stinging catfish-Heteropneustes fossils (Hossain et al, 2019) Pabda were hardly attempted for polyculture in the greater northern region. To ensure proper utilization of seasonal ponds, the culture of short-cycle species should be introduced in the semiarid zone to enhance fish production.…”

Assessing stocks of Mystus tengara (Hamilton, 1822) from three different management systems in Baors (Oxbow lake) of southwest Bangladesh: Implications for sustainable management

“…Earlier researchers had investigated different aspects such as reproductive biology [ 26 , 27 ], fecundity estimation [ 8 ], food and feeding habit [ 28 ], feeding ecology [ 29 , 30 ], and growth and prey preference [ 30 ] of Tengara in India and Bangladesh. Prior to our present study, few researchers had studied the length-weight relationships and condition factors of Tengara .…”

Role of Natural Food in Enhancing the Productivity of Saline Nile Tilapia in the Mangrove Ecosystem of Segara Anakan Lagoon, Brackish Water Culture

“…Natural food is necessary to support fisheries productivity (Hartati et al, 2017;Albertson et al, 2018;Pusey et al, 2020;Thoral et al, 2021), including in brackish water fish (Karna et al, 2014;Mondal and Chakravortty, 2015;Mondal and Mitra, 2016). The natural food of fish includes plankton, aquatic plants, small invertebrates, benthic fauna, detritus, and bacteria associated with detritus (Mendoza and Henkel, 2017;Andriyani et al, 2018).…”