Dietary composition and digestive enzymes of Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (Lacépède, 1803) off Ibeshe Beach, the Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria
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Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (Lacépède, 1803) has high economic significance in coastal areas of Nigeria, especially off the Lagos Lagoon as a source of protein for locals. It is also an important component in the aquatic food web. Analysis of stomach content and digestive enzymes of 540 silver catfish from Ibeshe Beach, the Lagos Lagoon, confirmed the omnivorous diet of the species. Overall, stomachs of 10.6% of specimens were empty, while stomachs of the others were characterized by a varying degree of fullness. According to the Index of Relative Importance (IRI), the prevailing food item were diatoms accounting for 32.2%; those were followed by crustaceans, algae, and molluscs. The occurrence, distribution, and specific activities of digestive enzymes (carbohydrases, proteases, and lipases) in different gut regions of juvenile C. nigrodigitatus (standard length < 20.5 cm) and adult fish (SL > 20.5 cm) were assessed using a digestive enzyme assay. The activity of these enzymes, which enables the digestion of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids, aligns with an omnivorous feeding habit. These results underscore the trophic adaptability of C. nigrodigitatus to its environment, especially in light of the high level of ongoing anthropogenic activity in the area, and provide insight into nutritional physiology of the silver catfish. This study is relevant in terms of the development of age-specific feed for this species, enhancing fisheries management and aquaculture practices.
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