Feeding habits and length-weight relationship of giant marbled eel Anguilla marmorata in the Brayeun River, Aceh Besar District, Aceh Province, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract Information on the feeding habit and length-weight relationship are crucial for fisheries management. Hence, the objective of the present study was to examine the feeding habit and length-weight relationships of the giant marbled eel Anguilla marmorata harvested from Brayeun River, Leupung sub-district, Aceh Besar District, Aceh Province, Indonesia. The survey was conducted from March to June 2017 (Rajab to Ramadhan 1438 Hijri Calendar). The sampling was done four times a month for three months on a dark night at new and old moons according to of lunar cycle (Hijri Calendar) for three months. A total of 38 eels were caught during the study and stomach content analysis showed that crabs and shrimp were the main food items for eel A. marmorata, while earth worms was a complementary food. This finding is indicating that A. marmorata is carnivorous. In addition, the length-weight relationship revealed that giant marbled eel had an allometric positive growth pattern, and the condition factors indicate the rivers are still in optimum condition and support fish life.