Feeding Ecology of Juvenile Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (LACE ́PE ̀DE, 1803), At the Tombia Mangrove Swamp Creek, Rivers State, Nigeria

The feeding ecology of Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus juvenile was investigated in a shallow mangrous creek in Rivers State of Nigeria. The frequency of occurrence and the numerical abundance methods were both used to assess the food items found in the stomach of the fish. It was observed that the dominant food items, using the percentage occurrence include filamatous green algae (96%); Detritus sand particles (88%); insect parts (53%); Molluscs (52.00%); Bivalve (49%), cladocera (49%); Megalope larva of crabs (35%). By the numerical abundance method the data analysis also indicated that filamentous green was the most dominant food item (24.67%); molluscs (13.31%) detritus/sand grains (11.51%) cladocera (11.32%) bivalve (10.17%); megalope larva of crabs (8.07%) and insect parts (7.42%). These findings suggest that C. nigrodigitatus is an omnivore but is more favourably disposed to animal sources of food than plant materials judging from the variety of food items of animal origin. It was predicted that the juvenile C. nigrodigitatus of Tombia Creek would likely be a predator in the adult stage. There is need for further investigation