Dietary composition and digestive enzymes of chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (Lacépède, 1803) off Ibeshe beach, Lagos lagoon, Nigeria
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Abstract
Stomach content and digestive enzyme analysis of five hundred and forty (540) silver catfish, Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus,from Ibeshe Beach, Lagos Lagoon, confirmed its omnivorous diet. Overall, 10.6% of the specimens had empty stomachs, while the others had stomachs in varying degrees of fullness. Diatoms accounted for 26.4% of the index of relative importance (IRI) of the food items, followed by crustaceans, algae and mollusks. The occurrence, distribution, and specific activities of digestive enzymes in different gut regions of juvenile (SL < 20.5 cm) and adult (SL > 20.5 cm) C. nigrodigitatus were also determined using a digestive enzyme assay. Carbohydrases, proteases, and lipases were present in the different gut regions of both life stages.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 providing insight into its nutritional physiology. This study is relevant to the development of age-specific feed for this fish species, enhancing fisheries management and aquaculture practices.