A study on food composition of Terapon jarbua (Forsskål, 1775) in the Thua Thien Hue coastal area

Abstract

This study on the food composition of the Terapon jarbua was carried out during two years from September 2015 to August 2017 with a total of 720 fish specimens of different ages, sizes, and weights in the coastal area of Thua Thien Hue. Specimens of fish were operated on immediately after being caught to observe the intestines and to take out the food from the digestive tract. Their food was, then, shaped in 4% formaldehyde and brought to the laboratory for the food composition analysis. The result of the research shows that in small-sized fish, the main food is Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta, Cyanophyta, Annelida, and Mollusca. In the group of large fish, the type of food is more diverse, mainly eating arthopoda and Chordata. The composition of Terapon jarbua’s food is quite diverse, belonging to 8 different plant and animal groups and organic matter. Terapon jarbua is an active predator, and the intensity of catching prey increases gradually in the group of fish with a size less than 250mm. Terapon jarbua is a species of economic value. Research on the natural food composition of the fish will serve as the basis for the aquiculture process, contributing to the development of Terapon jarbua’s aquaculture in Tam Giang - Cau Hai Lagoon Systems, Thua Thien Hue Province.