Food and Feeding Habits of Gerres filamentosus in the Cochin Backwaters

A total of 601 specimens of Gerres filamentosus were collected from the sampling sites and were subjected to gut content analysis. Guts were visually classified according to the fullness of the stomach. Occurrence, gravimetric and volumetric methods were followed to quantify the gut contents. Feeding intensity was assessed using methods such as the Gastro rosomatic index, mean index of feeding intensity, and index of fullness. Sex wise, month and length group-wise fluctuations in the feeding intensity were also studied. It can be seen that the percentage of actively feeding fish was observed to be high during pre-monsoon and monsoon months. Feeding intensity was at its peak during April and July 2019, and the main food was found to be prawn juveniles, polychaete worms and other detritus matter.