FOOD AND FEEDING HABITS OF Oreochromis niloticus IN LAKE GBEDIKERE, BASSA, KOGI STATE.

The food and feeding adaptations of Oreochromis niloticus in Gbedikere Lake, Bassa, Kogi State Nigeria were studied. A total of 146 fish samples were collected between July and December 2008; the stomach contents were analyzed using numerical and frequency of occurrence methods. The result shows that the fish is an omnivore, feeding mainly on plant parts (34.02%), detritus (11.35%), algae (22.68%), insect part (6.16%), crustaceans (7.56%), sand grains (8.51%) unidentified particles (9.71%).The length-weight relationship implied that adult female fish had the highest standard length (19.50cm) followed by the adult male (15.30cm) and the juveniles (5.90cm). The diversity of food substances found in the stomach and their occurrences in the juveniles and adults varied with the water bodies and season.