FEEDING DYNAMICS AND GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS OF SARDINELLA MADERENSIS IN RIVERS STATE'S NEW CALABAR RIVER

Samples of Sardinella maderensis were collected from New Calabar River, Port Harcourt Rivers State Nigeria, for the study of its food and growth. Food studies were done using frequency of occurrence and points method. While growth data was subjected to regression analysis, condition factor was estimated using fulton’s equation (k = W100/L3) Analysis of food importance by Index of food significance (IFS) had Melosira varians (13.30%) and Melosira distans as the most preferred items for the small (9.0 – 12.0cm) and big (13 – 13.5cm) groups respectively. Other food items found in the fish gut were Melosira ambigua, Melosira italic, Melosira granulate. Cyclotella comate, Cyclotella glomerata, Cyclotella atomus, Cyclotella ocellata, Diatoma elegatum, Fragineria capusina, Pinularia sp, Synedria tabutata, and Tabellaria flocullosa. Analysis of length–weight data indicated that the fish had a negative allometric growth (2.1717±0.0624), with condition factor of 0.9160±0.047. This study revealed that Sardinella maderensis feed predominantly on algae and would therefore require a moderate protein compounded feed for rearing in captivity.