FEEDING-HABITS OF TILAPIA, SAROTHERODON-NILOTICA (PERCIFORMIS, CICHLIDAE) FRY IN JOS, NIGERIA

Food and feeding habit of fry and fingerling Sarotherodon nilotica in some productive ponds in Rockwater Fish Farm, Jos were investigated. Results show that young fry (5-14.99mm standard length) preferred zooplankters. As size of fish increased, artificial food was preferred. In the cold months of December and January, there was a general decline in plankter abundance in the diet. This must be due to reduced abundance of these plankters in the water. Then fish depended more on artificial food. However, excessive feeding at this time would be wasteful, as more fish were observed with empty stomachs and this evidenced reduced appetite. Generally, considerable number of different zoo- and phyto-plankters were present in the food. Nutritive value of the stomach content was adequate.