Food and Feedings of Mystus tengara (Hamilton, 1822) from Nagavali River, Andhra Pradesh, India

Small indigenous fish species perform vital role in indigenous people food habitat and their empowerment. Mystus tengara is a well-known and commonly available food fish species, and one of the candidate ornamental fish species in ornamental fish firms. A total of 145 specimens of Mystus tengara (Hamilton, 1822) species were collected from a small distributary of Nagavali River of Andhra Pradesh. 35 food items were observed in the gut of Mystus tengara. The present study has been performed on the food and feeding habits, Gastro Somatic Index, Relative Length of Gut, Fullness and feeding Intensity, and Gut Content Analysis of Mystus tengara. Present study results very close to the earlier studies and revealed that Mystus tengara is a carnivorous fish and zooplankton is the basic food group for this fish species and observed food and feeding indicating sustainable growth and development in different river environments.