STOMACH CONTENTS AND INDEX OF FOOD SIGNIFICANCE OF Oreochromis niloticus (TILAPIA FISH) IN GOMBE MAIN MARKET

Abstract

This study investigated the stomach contents of 60 Oreochromis niloticus specimens from Gombe main market. The specimens comprised 34 males and 26 females with varying degrees of stomach fullness observed. Of the specimens examined, 49 had food contents, while 11 had empty stomachs. The frequency of occurrence (FO) and numerical method (NM) were used as Indices of food significance for analysing food items in the diet of O. niloticus. The food items consisted of sand grains (FO =32.65%; NM =18.60%), insect parts (FO = 40.81%; NM =23.25%), plant parts (FO = 48.97%; NM = 27.90%), phytoplankton (FO = 16.32%; NM = 9.30%) and fish remains (FO = 36.37%; NM =20.93%). These findings were depicting O. niloticus as an omnivorous species with a preference for plant materials that constituted the highest percentages of FO and NM. The results elucidated that the stomach content analysis and Indices of Food Significance of O. niloticus sold in Gombe main market feed on food composed mainly of plant origin though could be considered omnivore but preferentially herbivore.