Food & Feeding Habits of Larval Stage of Fishes
Developmental Stages-
Embryo: Developing fish prior to hatching.
Eleuthero-Embryo: After hatching until first feeding (Oviparous)/ parturition
(Viviparous) groups.
Larva: Developing fish after initiation of first feeding or parturition until a juvenile
stage (Attainment of full morphological features).
Larval Food:
Hatchlings- Feed on yolk reserves provided with them.
Fry & fingerlings- Because of under-developing small & short intestine prefers to
feed on easily digestible items mainly zooplanktons (protozoans, rotifers,
cladocerans and crustaceans larvae).
Change of Food Preference: Larvae of Caspian roach (Rutilus r. caspicus)
► After yolk-sac absorption (metamorphosis stage/ 5-8.5mm) on Volvox,
Rotifers & Copepod naupli.
► At fry stage (12mm) catches cladocerans
► At young stage (15mm) pick up insects from bottom
► Larvae of culturable carps feed firstly on zoo-and later phytoplankton
and so on……
Natural food item(s) dominance: In deep sea (copepods) & Freshwater
(Cladocerans & rotifers)
Mode of Feeding
of
Larval Stage of Fishes
According the habitat / food, fish larvae feed
in different ways-
Hatchlings feeding through yolk
absorption and assimilation
Larval feeding by food-capture
Larval feeding by food-filter
Especial feeding through ‘External
Gills’
Hatchling’s Feeding
{Yolk Material Absorption & Assimilation}
►Yolk material absorption by
syncitial cells of periblast
layer.
►Enzymatic digestion of yolk
material within above group
of cells.
►Digested yolk nutrient
released within peri-vitelline
space.
►Transportation of nutrient to
young one through peri-
vitelline circulation.
Larval feeding by food-capture
Larvae have a regular rhythmic swimming
pattern, where a few tail-beats alternate with
periods of rest, allow economical search of
largest possible volume of water for food.
In larvae of Myctophum & Idiacanthus eyes are
mounted on stalk to increase visual efficiency of
food search (80 times) as compared to larvae of
same size with non-ratable eyes.
Larval feeding by food-filter
Especially Ammocoete
larvae of Lamprey have
unique capability to filter
phytoplankton.
Unique arrangement of
teeth in larvae of eels and
allied groups suggest filter
feeding.
Moreover, Leptocephalus
larvae also have capability
to absorb nutrients from
sea-water via skin.
Larval feeding through ‘External Gills’
In those group of fishes whose larvae bear external gills,
have capability to assimilate dissolved nutrients of water-
medium along with D.O.
e.g. ►Lung-fish (Lepidosiren & Protopterus)
► Reed-fish (Polypterus)
► Elasmobranchs (T. mormorata & Squalis acanthias
{Spiny dog-fish})
Larva
Protopterus
Food, Methods of Feeding and Habits
of
Adult Fishes
Plankton
Nekton
Natural Food Items
{Qualitative Categorization}
Benthos
Detritus
Plankton (Neuston)
Plankton- are category of microscopic
organisms being drifted along with water
current whereas ‘neuston’ are category of
plankton which live on surface film of water.
Categories: (A-Size & B- Ecological Basis)
A- Size-Basis-
►Nanno-plankton (diameter< 0.03mm)
►Micro-plankton (diameter 0.03-3.0mm)
►Macro-plankton (diameter 3.0mm<)
B- Ecological Basis-
Haleco-plankton (Pond Plankton)
Limno-plankton (Lake Plankton)
Rheo-plankton / Potamo-plankton
(Running-water Plankton)
Hypalmyro-plankton (Brackish water
Plankton)
Halio-plankton (Marine Plankton)
Nekton: Group of large swimming organisms
which are found in all depths, having
independent movement (crustaceans,
cephalopods, fish, snakes etc.)
Benthos: Group of organisms live on bottom
{Phyto-and Zoo-benthos}, ecologically of
following categories-
Rhizo-benthos (rooted in bottom)
Hyper-benthos (attached with bottom-mud)
Psammon-benthos (attached with sandy bottom)
Hapto/Peri-benthod (attached with sub-merged plants/
substratum)
Endo-benthos (boring on solid substratum)
Detritus: Dead and decomposing plant-
materials by aerobic-bacterial putrefaction action.
Main / Basic Food
Secondary Food
Natural Food Items
{Quantitative Categorization} Incidental Food
Emergency / Obligatory Food
Natural food preferred by fish under
favorable conditions.
Consumed by fish if/ when available.
Rarely recorded in gut-content & enters
along with other items by chance.
Taken by fish for survival under
unfavorable conditions.
Mono-phagic (Catla catla, Hypophthalmichthysic molitrix)
Type of Food
Steno-phagic (Labeo rohita, Ctenopharyngodon idilla)
Items
Eury-phagic (Cirrhinus mrigala, Cyprinus carpio varieties)
Carnivorous (Catfishes & Murrels)
Feeding Quality of Food
Herbivorous (Schizothorax sps, O.gorami )
Items Omnivorous (Tor sps., Puntius sps)
Habits Plankton Feeder (H. ilisha, C, catla)
Insectivores ( Channa sp., Esomus sps.)
Carciniphagous (Anabas testidinius,
Specialization Malacophagous (G. chapra, C. garipienus)
of Food Items
Larvirous (Gambusia affinis, Chela sps., Oxygaster sps.)
Cannibilistic (C. batrachus & Murrel species)
Mode of Feeding
By Predation (Selective feeding on fish / aquatic animals)
By Grazing / Browsing (Indiscriminate feeding on all sort of items)
Basic Ways
By Staining (Selective feeding on living microorganisms)
of Feeding
By Sucking (Indiscriminate feeding on semi-solid materials)
By Parasitism (sucking body fluid from body of host)
Commonest Method of Feeding
Prey Capture: It is commonest method of
feeding being followed by majority of commercially
important fish-groups in Two-ways-
Ram-feeding- Rapid swimming, ramming water
through mouth and out through opercular opening.
Suction Feeding: Fish creates a strong inward
directed water current by rapid expansion of
buccal cavity while stationary.
In modern fishes, jaws are shortened to limit gap
while expansibility of buccal cavity is maintained
resulting in increased water velocity through
smaller mouth when cavity is expanded.
{Being completed in 3-phagic motions of Buccal cavity}
Muscular mechanism involved in suction feeding
Diversified Way of Feeding of Lake Malawi Cichlid Fish
(Petrotilapia tridentiger)
Vertical scraping of algae Scraping down algae
Manipulate feeding Biting of fish
Slow upward catch Slow downward feeding
Slow horizontal feeding Fast suction feeding
Food & Feeding Habit
{Commercial Group of Fishes}
Carps-
Catla catla Zooplankton, larvae of insects &
crustaceans, unicellular algae,
microscopic plants etc.
Labeo species Decaying plants, uni-multi
(filamentous) algae, microscopic
plants, mud etc.
Cirrhinus mrigala Decaying plants & animals, algae,
detritus, mud etc.
H. molitrix Unicelluar algae, rotifers, protozoans,
decaying plants etc.
C. idella Aquatic vegetation
C. carpio varieties All sort of living / non-living, dead &
decaying materials etc.
Food & Feeding Habit
{Commercial Group of Fishes}
Carnivores-
C. batrachus Insects, fish-fry, decaying matters etc.
H. fossilis Insects-worms-copepods-alge, debris etc.
Channa species Insects, fish-fry, frog-tadpoles etc.
Wallago attu Insects, fish-fry, frog-tadpoles etc.
Mystus species Insects, fish-fry, frog-tadpoles etc.
Miscellaneous-
A. testudineus Insects, their larvae, aquatic plants etc.
O. goramy Insects, their larvae, algae, aquatic plants
O. mossambicus Insects-crustaceans-larvae, filamentous
algae, aquatic plants etc.
Food & Feeding Habit Associated Modification
in Digestive System of Commercial
Group of Fishes
Oral Openings (Jaws & Labial Folds)
Bucco-pharynx (Gill-rakers, Teeth, Taste-buds & mucous glands)
Modifications in Oesophagus (Distensability)
Stomach (shape, Size & Musculature)
Intestine & Rectum (Length, Spiral-Valves & Salt-secreting glands)
Oral Openings & Labial Folds
Oral Openings-
Upturn in plankton feeders
Terminal in column feeders
Downward in bottom feeders
Labial Folds-
Thin, smooth & short in plankton feeders
Thick, may be fringed / multiple lower ones in
column feeders
Thick, bulging & protractible in bottom feeders
Thick with tubercles & suckers / adhesive-pad on
lower side in hill-stream fishes
Labial Folds
◄L. dyocheilus (continuous)
L. dero (interrupted) ►
L. fisheri (horny jaw-ridge)
T. progenius (fan-shapes)►
◄G. gotyla (Suctorial-disc)
Bucco-pharynx (Gill-rakers)
In Predatory Carnivores, gill-rakers are modified in form of
teeth like structures.
In plankton-feeders, gill-rakers are elongated & forming
sieve-like network.
In purely herbivores, gill-rakers are serrated; in obligatory
one they are short, stumpy & stout.
In omnivores also, gill-rakers are prominently serrated.
Bucco-pharynx (Teeth)
A typical Herbivore A typical Carnivore
In herbivores, plankton-feeders & purely omnivores,
only inferior pharyngeal teeth are present &
posterior narrow pharyngeal region perform
mastigatory function.
In facultative omnivores (Eutropichthyes vacha, C. batrachus)
minute teeth are present on jaws.
In predatory carnivores, various type jaw’s & also
superior+inferior pharyngeal theeth are present.
Various type teeth in exclusive predatory
carnivores [Marine]
Pylodictis olivaris
Chauliodis sloani
Bucco-pharynx [Taste-buds & Mucous Glands]
In plankton-feeders, a few taste-buds, thick-pad of
mucous [fatty] glands with ridges & grooves more
in phyto-planktors.
In herbivores (being gustatory in their feeding nature),
dominant taste-buds, thin-pad of mucous [fatty]
glands.
In facultative omnivore (C. mrigala) moderate taste-
buds, thin pad of mucous [fatty] glands with
lamellar organ in upper-jaw side supported by
ridge-band in lower jaw.
In exclusive omnivore (C. carpio), a few taste-buds,
thick-pad of mucous [fatty] glands.
In predatory carnivores feeding by sight, taste-
buds are a few.
Histological Organization of Bucco-pharynx
In a typical teleost fish,
bucco-pharyngeal
lining is composed of
thick layer of stratified
epithelial cells.
Below that is Stratum
Malpighii layer.
Superficially a large
number of mucous
cells are present.
Sub-mucosa is
composed of dense
connective tissue.
Bucco-pharynx of Culturable Carps
L. rohita
C. catla H. mollitrix
C. mrigala C. carpio
C. idella
Oesophagus (Distensibility)
It is so distesible that
can accommodate any
thing that a fish can get
into mouth, even larger
than that.
In herbivores/omnivores: Short
& narrow tube-like. LP
In Predatory carnivores: Large
& distensible.
Histologically, have mucous-
cells & taste-buds in mucosal
layer.
In mucosal fold of anterior
region, stratified epithelial layer
& in posterior region columnar T. S. of an Omnivorous fish
epithelial layer is present.
Stomach (Shape, Size & Musculature)
►On basis of food & feeding habit of fishes,
stomach is characterized by shape, size &
musculature.
► Histologically it is characterized by presence
of inner most thick layer of gastric-glands.
► In general in following group of fishes ‘True
Stomach’ is absent: Cyprinids (carps), Holocephali
(Chimaera) & Dipnoi (Lung-fish).
► In above case false stomach is modified
from anterior most part of intestine in form of
‘Intestinal Bulb’.
{A} Omnivores- Stomach is more often sac-shape
like-human & projecting thick enfolding of gastric
glands.
►Further in those more often feeding on fatty (wax)
materials, it has presence of pyloric caecae also.
{B} Predatory-Carnivores- It is typically quite
elongated to accommodate large-sized prey,
projecting thick longitudinal enfolding of gastric-
glands.
►Further having pyloric caecae also.
{C} Planktonivores (H. ilisha & G. chapra) &
Bottom-grubbers (M. cephalus, Acipenser &
Dormosa)- It is reduced & modified in form of
‘Gizzard’ like structure for triturating hard-sand
containing food material.
►Further having pyloric caecae also.
Histological Organization of Stomach
Histologically
stomach is lined by
thick well-
vascularzed
muscular wall.
From interor side it
has columnar
epithelial layer
raised into primary &
secondary
enfoldings.
Below columnar
layer, gastric-glands
are positioned.
Intestine & Rectum {Length, Spiral-Valve System & Glands}
Intestine-
Short & straight in carnivorous-predatory fishes.
Long & highly coiled in herbivores (Phytoplanktoners), containing hepato-
pancreatic tissue among coils but in purely herbivores (C. idella) of
moderate size.
In purely omnivores, it is shorter than herbivores (C. carpio).
Presence of intestinal caecae (Notopterus, Mastecembalus, Hilsa, Channa,
Harpodon) provide more effective absorptive surface area & act as seat
for ‘Lipase’ biosynthesis & secretion.
Like micro-villi supported epithelial lining in intestine of teleostei to
increase effective absorptive surface area in chondrichthyes & dipnoi
fishes spiral-valve system is developed. It is also found but less
prominent in some primitive bony fishes (Amia, Polypterus &
Osteoglossids).
►In Rectum of majority of marine chodrichthyes fishes &
exceptionally in one of bony fish (Latimaeria) salt-secreting
rectal glands are found for osmoregulatory functions.
Histological Organization of Intestine
In herbivorous-cum-omnivorous (C. A
mrigala), instestine has thin T.S.
muscular wall & mucosal part Intestine of
C. mrigala
thrown into prominent folds. [A-Anterior
Mucosal foldings have micro-villi & B-
bearing absorptive cells of Posterior
regions]
Micro-villi are more prominent in
proximal part to increase effective
absorptive surface area for
digested nutrient assimilation.
Mucous-glands – more in anterior,
least in middle & increase
considerably in posterior parts. B
In carnivorous-cum-omnivorous (C.
batrachus) fish, inestinal wall is
composed of thick muscular wall &
micro-villi supported epithelial
enfoldings of columnar cells are
less developed.
