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Published:
Oct 29, 2026DOI:
10.4314/mejs.v18i2.2Keywords:
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Main Article Content
Feeding Habits and Length-Weight Relationship of the African Catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) (Pisces: Clariidae) from Koka Reservoir, Ethiopia
Teshome Belay
Tekleweyni Asayehegn
Abstract
This study was conducted during two rainy (June and July) and two dry (April and May) months of 2024 to examine the feeding habits and length-weight relationship of the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus, from Koka Reservoir, Ethiopia. In total, 402 specimens were collected and analyzed for feeding habits and length-weight relationships. From the total sample considered, only 343 (85.3%) were non-empty and considered for feeding habit analysis. A multiple sampling approach, including gillnets of different sizes, beach seines, hooks, and random sampling, was applied. The diet composition was analyzed using frequency of occurrence and volumetric contribution. From the stomach contents of C. gariepinus, seven major food categories were identified, displaying an omnivorous category. Among the identified diet compositions, zooplankton in occurrences (90.38%) and volumetric contribution (21.42%) were the dominant food categories. The occurrences of insects (93.07%) and macrophytes (89.23%) were the major food categories in dry and rainy months, respectively. Volumetrically, it was also seen that insects were the most ingested food items, accounting for 29.53% in dry months, and macrophytes (25.29%) in rainy months, respectively. The length-weight relationship indicated a curvilinear and significant interaction (r² = 0.979). The growth exponent displayed an isometric growth pattern (b = 2.95). From the results, it is concluded that the diet composition of C. gariepinus from Koka Reservoir indicates differences based on size and season. The overall growth exponent indicates the current safe condition. Some food items, like fish and insects, show a low dietary role compared to previous studies in the same study area. Therefore, it is recommended to conduct further studies by incorporating year-round sampling to indicate their feeding pattern.
