© January 2018 | IJIRT | Volume 4 Issue 8 | ISSN: 2349-6002 Studies on Growth and Feeding Biology of Chanda Nama (Hamilton, 1822) from Vettar River of Cauvery River Basin Nagore, Tamil Nadu Bhuvaneswari. R1, P. Serfoji2 PG & Research Department of Zoology, Government Arts College (Autonomous), Kumbakonam-612 002 Abstract- The present study was carried out to elongate glass perchlet, (Chanda nama) is a determine the Length-weight relationship and feeding carnivorous, brackish water fish in the Asiatic biology of Chanda nama (Hamilton, 1822) belongs to glassfish family Ambassidae, of the only species in Ambassidae was collected during the period between the genus Chanda. It is native to an area of south January 2017 and March 2017 from Vettar river near Asia from Pakistan to Burma, in the Indomalaya Nagore Cauvery river basin of Tamil Nadu. In this study based on 75 specimens consisting ranging 5.0-8.5 ecozone. The family includes eight genera and about cm in total length and 1.20-5.66 gm in total weight. The 50 species. The family was formely known as the length-weight relationship of Chanda nama shows Chandidae, a name which ITIS continues to use. Fish negative allometric growth. The r2 values show the Base notes that Ambassidae, which were named by linear relationship between the length and weight of the Klunzinger in 1820, has priority over Chandidae, specimens. The food items in the stomach of Chanda which was created by Fowler in 1905. nama suggest that they are carnivorous. The gut The elongate glassy perchlet reaches a maximum content analysis was revealed that among the six overall length of 11cm. They have short, deep and different food categories only two items namely algae compressed body. Head is also short and compressed and crustacean appendages were abundant throughout the study period. The present study is useful for an and the snout is sharp. Mouth is wide and turned efficient and meaningful exploitation and regulation of upward in particularly. The lower jaw is longer than the Chanda nama fishery in Vettar river, due to the upper one. Lips are thin. Villiform teeth are important edible food fish around Nagore Cauvery present not only on the jaws but also on the palate river basin area. and tongue in certain species. The lower limb of preopercle has a double serrated edge, and the Index Terms- Le ngth-weight relationship, Feeding opercle has no prominent spine. Two dorsal fins are biology, Chanda nama and Vettar river. present which are continuous. Also, dorsal fin has forwardly directed recumbent spine. Caudal fin is I. INTRODUCTION forked. Scales are cycloid. Eyes are large and The aquatic resource of the seven southern Indian superior. states – Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil In the Ambassidae family, the fishes (Chanda nama) Nadu, Pudhucherry, Goa and parts of Maharashtra – is economically important and distributed in brackish cover about 20 % of rivers and canals, 38.6 % of water system. Elongate glassy perchlet are presumed reservoirs, 50 % of tanks and ponds and 63 % of to be surface feeding fish. Glassfish are fast swamps and derelict water sources of India. In Tamil swimmers, and also seem to be playful. Obviously, Nadu the major reservoirs are Mettur and Grand avoid predators large enough to eat the glassfish. Anicut Jayaram (2010) published a survey of the The species is known by a variety of names locally, entire river Cauvery system with a major account on including “perchlet” and several variations on its fish fauna. generic name (“chanda”, “channa”, etc); The fishes of the order Perciformes popularly known internationally it is also known as the elongated as elongate glass perchlet, (Silanthal in Tamil). The glassfish. The fish is well known as a Small IJIRT 145195 INTERNATIONAL JO URNAL OF INNOVATIVE RESEARCH IN TECHNOLOGY 175 © January 2018 | IJIRT | Volume 4 Issue 8 | ISSN: 2349-6002 Indigenous Species (SIS) of fish of Bangladesh. of fish and to determine whether somatic growth was Most of them are taken for drying in Northern region isometric or allometric. In fishery biology, Length– of Bangladesh. Glassfish are a schooling fish and weight relationship are useful in determining weight prefer to be kept in groups of five or more. They can and biomass when only length measurements be kept in smaller numbers. It is very much famous available, as indications of condition and to allow for food in rural Bangladesh. Good source of nutrition comparison of species growth between different but low price in the market. regions (Koutrakis et. al., 2003). Besides the length- This species occurs in the clear freshwater of rivers, weight relationship can also be used in setting yield streams, canals, beels and both freshwater and equations for estimating the number of fish landed brackish water. Especially in the rainy season these and in comparing the population in space and time are abundantly found from the marginal area of the (Beverton and Holt, 1957). jute and paddy fields (Bhuiyan, 1964). It is hardy Furthermore, length-weight relationship allow inter and can stand foul water. (Iqbal et al., 1995) also alia; i) estimation of average weight of the fish of a described about feeding habit of Chanda nama. The given length group (Beyer, 1987); ii) Conversion of number of species are used as aquarium fish, noted length-growth equations to weight-growth for their transparent bodies. Growth of Chanda nama equivalents (i.e., length-at-age to weight-at-age) in in rivers is strongly related to seasonal water flow yield-per-recruit and related models; iii) inter specfic like flood season. The growth can vary significantly and inter population morphometric comparism of fish with flooding intensity and duration (Welcomee, species; and iv) Assessing the relative well-being 1985), and it can be expected that this phenomenon is of fish populations. In tropical and subtropical an important factor for flood plain fish catches in waters, the growth fluctuation is more composition. Bangladesh. Length–weight relationships are of great importance Studies on the aspects of biology of elongate glassy in fisheries research because they provide perchlet rich as growth pattern, reproduction, length– information on population. First, a change in length weight relationship, nutrition are necessary as they and weight tells the age and year-classes of fishers, would furnish relevant information for the which is important in fishery. Secondly, the data can formulation of fisheries management policies be used to estimate the mortality rate, and thirdly (Everhart et al., 1975). Hence, the present work deals they can be used to assess the sustaining power of the about the length-weight relationship and the feeding fishery stock. In addition, the data on length and biology among Chanda nama from Vetter river. The weight can also provided important clues to climatic length–weight relationship is particularly important and environmental changes, and the change in human in parameterizing yield equations and in estimations subsistence practices (Pauly, 1984). Length and of stock size. This relationship is helpful for weight data are useful standard results of fish estimating the weight of a fish given length and can sampling programs (Morato et al., 2001). be used in studies of gonad development, rate of Fish are said to exhibit isometric growth when length feeding, metamorphosis, maturity and spawning increases in equal properties with body weight for gonadal development and general well being of the constant specific gravity. The regression coefficient fish population (Le Cren, 1951) and comparing the for isometric growth is „3‟ and values greater or life history of fishes of different localities. lesser then „3‟ indicate allometric growth. Condition Length–weight relationship are useful in fishery factor studies take into consideration the health and management for both applied and basic use to (i) general well – being of a fish as related to its estimate weight from length observations, (ii) environment; hence it represents how fairly deer calculate production and biomass of fish population, bodied or robust fishes. It is one of the standard and / or (iii) provide information on stock or practices in fishery ecology that the individual fis h organism condition at the corporal level. Length- species conditions determined based on the analysis length relationships (LLRs) are also important in of length – weight data reflected that the heavier fish fisheries management for comparative growth at a given length is in better condition. studies. Length–weight relationships for fish were The study of the food and feeding habits of fish has originally used to provide information on condition received attention from various workers from IJIRT 145195 INTERNATIONAL JO URNAL OF INNOVATIVE RESEARCH IN TECHNOLOGY 176 © January 2018 | IJIRT | Volume 4 Issue 8 | ISSN: 2349-6002 different angles although the methodology adopted boat maintenance equipment, and tools for has varied considerably. Hynes (1950) and Pillay commercial fishing to reduce the inconvenience and (1952) have given their reviews with critical labour required for transporting fishing gear, and the assessment of the various methods employed. installation of gear lockers is also necessary to Rounsefell and Everhart (1953) have described the improve fishing effort. The elongate glassy perchlet different methods used for collection of the material are economically important in the fish landing centre for detailed study of the food and feeding habits. of Nagore Vettar River. Food habits and feeding ecology research is a fundamental tool to understand fish roles within their ecosystems since they indicate relationships based on feeding resources and indirectly indicate community energy flux which allows inferring competition and predation effects on community structure. Indian glassfish is usually found in shoals in the wild. Food is the main source of energy and plays an important role in determining the population levels, rate of growth and condition of fishes have a great significance in aquaculture practice.