F'OOD AND FEEDING HABITS OF CYPRINUS OARPIO L. AT SEROW FISH FARM, EGYPT

F’OOD AND FEEDING HABITS OF CYPRINUS OARPIO L.
AT SEROW FISH FARM, EGYPT
By
H.M. BISHAI
Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University.
AND
S.A. ABDEL-MALEK W. LABIB
Institute of ItLland Waters and Fish Culture, Barrage Fish Farm
INTRODUCTION
The food and feeding habits of the mirror carp was studied by different
investigators working at different Iocalities (Seeley, 1886, Bean 1892 ; Cole,
1905 ; Forbes and Hichardson, 1909 ; Greffiey, 1928 ; Clemens, 1939 ; Gerking, 1950 ; Sigler, 1958 ; Hora and Pillay, 1962 ; Walburg and Nelson,
1966 …. etc.},
The study of the food of carp in Egyptian waters was not carried out
since the introduction and successful acclimatization of carp in Egypt in
19-1,0; The knowledge of the main food items of carp at different stages
is of utmost importance. Although in carp culture artificial food is usually
given, yet, natural food is necessary for good growth and healthy carp as it
provides certain substances which are not included in artificial food. Wundcr
(1949) has shown that the natural food taken by carp in ponds consists
chiefly of chironomid larvae,other insects larvae and zoopI.ankton, all these
are rich in protein. Brown (1957) indicated that 5 species of insect larvae
Gammorue and Heladulus contained 82% water and not less than 11.5%
protein. All these authors emphasised the importance of natural food for
carp as a source of protein.
Hence the study of natural food of carp is needed especially during the
early larval tages, which are considered as the most crirical stages in the
life of fish. The exact information of the main food items (If oarp fry from
the stage at which they commence feeding to the early fingeJ.’lljngstage is of
utmost value to provide optimum nursery requirements for their successful
rearing. Such food items could be made abundant at the suitable time
either by providing the necessary requirmental conditions or by artificial
fertilization of fish ponds.