Food and feeding habits of the Indian catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch)) from Tigris river at Al- Kadhimia region, north of Baghdad city

Food and feeding habits of Hetropneustes fossilis (Bloch) have been investigated. Monthly samples (twice a month) were taken during the period from March 2000 to February 2001, using small - meshed cast net. A total of 197 fish were used to examine the stomach contents. The analysis of stomach contents of H. fossilis in the area of study revealed that fish were fed on the bottom, mid surface and surface food. The main food of the fish were phytoplanktons, molluscs, chironomid larvae and pupae and higher plants which mean that the species under investigation prefer to be carnivorous in the area of study, the study of variation in feeding intensity of H. fossilis , showed that the highest feeding intensity was observed during summer months while the lowest was during autumn and such variation occurred due to the availability of food in the habitat, the changes in temperatures and /or perhaps due to the feeding habits of this species.