AKSU Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences

ISSN(Print): 2651-5679    ISSN(Online): 2695-2556


    

Effects of Season on Food, Feeding Habit and Condition Factor of Squeakers (Synodontis vermiculatus, Daget 1954) in Shagari Dam Sokoto State, Nigeria


Author: 
Ibrahim S. Jega, Balkisu H. Augie, Dalhatu Y. Bawa, Mohammad Y. Abubakar

Abstract
The research examined the effect of season on food and feeding habit and condition factor of Synodontis vermiculatus (Daget,1954) in Shagari Dam, Sokoto State. The period of the research was from March 2020 to February, 2021. Eighty two (82) fish samples used for this research were collected from the commercial fishermen at the landing site of the Dam. Morphometric data were collected using electric weighing balance and a measuring ruler. Frequency of occurrence method was implored for the study of feeding habit. Index of preponderance was used to determine the importance of food item to the fish. The maximum total length and body weight recorded was 18.60cm and 67.86g, respectively, in September. The minimum total length recorded in December was 9cm and the minimum body weight in October was 9.81g. The highest condition factor obtained was in February and March for female (4.332) and male (1.083), respectively. Food items consumed by the fish were Microcystis spp., Oscillatoria spp., Anabaena spp, Cylindrospermopsis spp., Aphanizomenon spp., Detritus, Mud, Copepod, Adult Oikopleura, Barnacle nauplius, worms and fish larvae, which indicate that the fish is an omnivore. The research revealed that the fish does not grow large. The result of season and food and feeding habit also revealed that the species feed most in the months of June, July, August and October.