J. Env. Bio-Sci., 2014: Vol.

28 (2): 305-309 ISSN 0973-6913 (Print), ISSN 0976-3384 (On Line)

GUT CONTENT ANALYSIS OF THE CHANNA PUNCTATA (BLOCH) FROM RIVER BEAS,
HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA
Arun Koundal1 , Somu Koundal 2, Indu Sharma3 and Rani Dhanze4
Dept. Fisheries, COVAS, CSKHPKV, Palampur- 176062 (H.P.)1,2,4
Zoological Survey of India, High Altitude Regional Centre, Solan- 173212, H.P., India3
koundal.arun@gmail.com1 ;koundal.somu@gmail.com 2; induzsi@gmail.com3 ; rdhanze@ gmail.com4

Received: 25-09-2014 Accepted: 01-11-2014

The food and feeding of the Channa punctata (Bloch) was studied from different reaches of River Beas, based on the
collection of 153 fish ranging from 40-160 mm (SL). The studies of guts indicated that there was a preponderance of empty
stomachs during the breeding months of this fish. The insect was the dominant food item during all the months. Sand and semi
digested food of plant and animal origin also formed part of the stomach content. The highest value of Ga.SI was found during the
pre-breeding and post-breeding periods, while inverse relationship of feeding and breeding was noticed.

Analysis of gut content is widely used to ascertain the food
and feeding habits of fish species. Accurate description of diets
and feeding habits provides the basis for understanding the
trophic interactions in aquatic food webs1. Feeding is usually
a part of the daily routine, the rate of which sometimes changes
with the breeding activities of the fish. The nature of food
composition of fish also reveals the possible habitats in which
it lives frequently. C. punctata (Bloch) is well known for its
hardy nature, can survive well in harsh environmental conditions
(low water levels, low dissolved oxygen, unclear-swampy water
regions etc.). Moreover it's capability of engulfing oxygen from
air, good survivability and growth at higher densities, nutritive
and medicinal qualities and above all less chances of disease
makes it best option for culture practice2-8. Hence correct
knowledge of the relationship of fish with its food organism is
essential for the production and exploitation of fish stocks.
Various workers have done the food feeding behaviour of this
species9-14 and others15- 21 have undertaken same kind of studies
in different species of Genus Channa in different climatic
conditions. But no work has been reported so far from the
Western Himalaya of Himachal Pradesh. So considering the
importance of this species the present study has been
conducted.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
was done as per standard procedures 22. The guts were
preserved in 5% after taking their weight (in grams) and fullness
of the stomach was ascertained. Moreover gut microscopic
examination was carried out by using light microscope
(OLYMPUS, CH20iBlMF).The sex, condition and weight (in
grams) of gonad were also noticed for calculating Gonado-
somatic index (G.S.I) of each fish. To record the number of
stomachs containing one or more individuals of each food
category, frequency of occurrence method was used23. The
feeding intensity was assessed based method given by kow24.
The gut contents were isolated and identified as far as possible
up to the genus or family level, following the point method25
was adopted. The data were analyzed to obtain the percentage
of empty stomachs, average index of fullness, percentage of
different categories of food items per fish and the percentage
frequency of occurrence of different food items. Average index
of fullness and Gastro-somatic index (Ga.S.I) were also
calculated to find out the fullness of gut and monthly variations
in feeding intensity of the fish while Gonado-somatic index
(G.S.I) was monitored to indicate the spawning season and
frequency of spawning in different months. The respective
values of Ga.S.I and G.S.I in different months were plotted
graphically to find out the relationship of feeding and breeding.
Following standard formulae were used for calculations:

Fish samples (N=153, 40-160 mm Standard length), were

collected from the sub-tributaries of river Beas i.e. Mole and
Neugal at different reaches of District Kangra (H.P) during the
period of February to October 2011. The collection was done
monthly by using diversified gears like hooks and lines, cast
nets and local fishing traps. The examination of gut contents
 Gut Content Analysis of the Channa Punctata (Bloch) (306)

Table-1. List of various food items under different food groups

Table-2. Diet composition, based on % age of occurrence and % age of total points

Table-3. Monthly variations based on average index of fullness and average points/fish
(307) Koundal, Koundal, Sharma and Dhanze

Table-4. Monthly variation in abundance of food items during the study period

Fig. 1 a. Monthly variation in the Mean Ga.S.I values and G.S.I; Fig.1 b. Mean Ga.S.I in different sized groups of female and male.

based diet (Table-1). The data obtained from the (%)

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The gut contents were analyzed qualitatively as well as
quantitatively. The different food types recorded from the gut
were categorized into 10 main food groups. The highest
percentage (69.33 %) of total food items consumed by this
fish were of animal origin, 19.04 (%) of the plant origin and
11.63 (%) of semi-digested material, which indicated that it is
mainly a carnivorous fish that feeds mainly on animal based
food items such as insects, small sized fish, fish eggs, fish
larvae and hatchlings mainly. The copepods, cladocerans,
molluscs, annelids and amphibians also contributed to animal
occurrence and (%) total points revealed insect as the most
dominating group (Table-2). Moreover, on the basis of average
index of fullness, average points per fish and (%) empty
stomachs, the monthly variations in the amount of food was
analyzed and an inverse relationship between feeding and
breeding cycles was noticed (Table-3). The analysis based
on monthly variation depicted the presence of abundant food
varieties (table-4).
Monthly variations in the mean Ga.SI and GSI values of 105
female and 48 male fish, ranging from 40 to 160 mm SL is
presented in Fig.1.a displayed an inverse relationship of
feeding (Ga.SI) and breeding (GSI). It was observed that during
 Gut Content Analysis of the Channa Punctata (Bloch)
June-July (breeding period) the corresponding values of Ga.SI
decreased while increase in the GSI values was noticed in the
same period. There was not much difference in average Ga.SI
values of both sexes except in range of 60-80mm (Fig. 1.b).
However the Ga.SI values of male was significantly (p=0.5)
higher than female in range of 140-160 mm.
The (%) occurrence and (%) total points of diet composition
indicated that insect was, the most dominating group, while
the next preferred food items were small fish (12.43 %), diatoms
and green algae (9.52 % each) respectively. Studies indicated
the food and feeding habits of juvenile as well as the adult C.
punctata (Bloch) and reported crustaceans, insects, molluscs,
fishes, plant materials, and semi digested materials in the gut
contents in which crustaceans were found more and rest group
followed the same priority orders13,14. However, in the present
study the same food groups were observed, but the difference
was noticed in respect of (%) occurrence and total point. This
could be attributed to the fact that abundance and type of food
items greatly depends upon the nature of the habitat in which
fish accommodates. Hence the lowest value was recorded of
amphibians (tadpoles), and annelids, due to the fact that
tadpoles were available only during the months of July to
September while the availability of annelids (small earthworms),
was rare.
The monthly variations on the basis of average index of fullness,
average points/fish and (%) empty stomachs revealed that
during February, all the guts were non empty with an average
index of fullness 4.61 and 11.21 average points/fish while, from
March to May only few stomachs were empty. But the
maximum number of empty stomachs were obtained during
June (63.16 %), July (73.68 per cent) i.e., breeding period.
Further, the (%) of empty stomachs was decreased during
August, but yet it was higher as compared to September and
October. It clearly indicated that, amount of food acceptance
varied with seasonal changes as well as the periods of sexual
cycle (pre breeding, breeding and post breeding season). During
the breeding period (June, July) the presence of maximum
empty stomachs indicated decreased feeding rate and feeding
intensity, which was followed by August, i.e., period of parental
care. An inverse relationship between feeding and breeding
cycles has been reported by many workers26, 27 and confirmed
the present findings. The seasonal changes in food and feeding
habits have also been reported by some investigator12,14,28. It
(308)
has also pointed out its carnivorous, surface feeding habits
and poor feeding intensity during spawning period14 and
confirmed the present views.
Further, monthly variation in the abundance of food items based
on total number depicted insects as the most dominant food
during all the months with the highest number (152) in April.
The abundance of diatoms (19), green algae (18), molluscs
and small fish (17 each) was almost same, while copepods
(2), cladocerans (1) and amphibians (0) were found least in
number during the month of February. C. punctata (Bloch) is a
carnivorous fish which mainly feeds upon animal based food
items13,14. But based on present study it was inferred that in
addition to animal based diets, diatoms (9.52 %) and green
algae (9.52 %) were also accepted by this fish, during the
scarcity of animal origin food. Among the semi-digested
materials (11.63 %) dry leaves, small stems, plant twigs, scales
etc were also noticed in addition to sand and mud. Moreover,
The zooplanktons, cyclops, daphnia, insect's body parts, larvae
and pupae as the primary food while plant diet as the secondary
food, sand and oligochaetes were the incidental food and the
fish scales were the emergency food12.
Monthly variations in the average Ga.SI values depicted that
during March, April and May the values get elevated and showed
highest or first peak (6.539) in May (fig.1a). This could be
attributed to the fact that, this period (February to May) is
considered as the pre-breeding season of the fish, which
corresponded to gonad maturation and therefore high energy
is required for attaining sexual maturity. As a result during this
season fish became highly voracious in nature leading to rise
in Ga.SI values. But after that, the trend line showed
depression, during the month of June (4.381) and July (4.529)
as during breeding period the feeding activity became low.
Further there was little increment of Ga.SI value in August,
which itself explained the low feeding activity during parental
care. But after that the feeding activity, became normal as fish
adopted voracious nature of feeding to resume the spent
energy. Hence the second highest peak was recorded during
September (5.876) after which it declined due to fall in
temperature. The evaluation of average Ga.SI value's for different
size groups (Fig.1.b) depicted that both sexes did not show
much differences accept few exceptions, which proved that
both sexes have equally voracious nature at any size, during
their life period. However, 60-80 mm group exhibited the highest
 (309) Koundal, Koundal, Sharma and Dhanze

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