Feeding Habits and Stomach Contents of Asian seabass Lates calcarifer from Nizampatnam Coast, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Food is a significant factor in the ecology of fishes and required survival, growth, reproduction and extensive migration. Food and feeding habits of fish is a helpful of fishery biology and culture aspects. The feeding strategies and diet composition of Asian seabass Lates calcarifer from Nizampatnam during January to December 2015. There was a preponderance of empty stomach is all the months. Crustaceans 31%, fish larvae 21%, polychaets worms, 15% and algae 8% of the food item in the food spectrum of the fishes. Further items were semi digested 13% and unidentified 12% and also monthly fluctuations were also observed in the percentage occurrence of stomach with different degrees of fullness. It is evident that higher percentage of fullness of the stomach was recorded in premonsoon due to prespawning flattening process. The monthly Gastro Somatic Index ranged from 2.1 to 5.1 and higher values were recorded in the month of July.