• Aysha Aziz Faridi
• M. Serajuddin
• M. Moshahid A.Rizvi

The spiny eel, Mastacembelus armatus is a commercially important freshwater teleostean fish. Monthly samples of fish were collected from NCR, New Delhi region from January, 2016 to December, 2016. Fecundity estimation was carried out using gravimetric method as suggested by Lagler, 1956. The spawning period was determined by using the gonadosomatic index (GSI). Male showed a slight numerical superiority over female. Paired Gonads elongate with ripening and extend towards the posterior half of the abdomen. Gonads developed during March and entered the ripening stage and subsequently got predominant during May-June. The size of ova ranged between 0.4 to 1.45 mm in the ripe stage. Ova sampled from different parts of the ovary were of the same size indicated single spawning in a year. Fecundity increased with size and weight of fish. Absolute fecundity varied between 927-7409 egg cm-1 in the specimens of M.armatus ranging from 12.0-48.2 cm in size. Length-wise the fecundity varied between 53-146 egg cm-1 with 63 egg cm-1 and weight wise it varied between 13-88egg g-1with an average of 29 egg g-1 of the body weight of the fish. Regression analysis indicated that the total length and weight could be used to predict fecundity of this spiny eel, but weight proved to be the best predictor of fecundity (r=0.9151). Although in both cases significant correlation was noted (p<0.001).Ova per gram of ovary weight varied between 177-1108, with an average of 64egg g-1. The condition of all the ova in an ovary being at the same stage of development is indicative of the fact that spawning in this fish take place only once in a year. Well developed dentition, absence of gill rakers , strongly built stomach and short intestine together with the dominance of animal matter in the gut contents ,suggested the carnivorous and active predatory habits of M. armatus. Body width in all life stages of M .armatus was about 5.56/of total body length, resulting in a slender body .This also pointed towards an active mobile lifestyle suited to its predatory nature. The fish fed on varieties of food items viz. fish, aquatic insects, crustaceans, molluscs, annelids, debris and mud that respectively obtained as 16.60, 14.75, 10.78, 8.50, 8.28, and 13.52 percent on average.

spiny eel, gastrosomatic index gonadosomatic index, fecundity, sex-ratio

"STUDY OF REPRODUCTIVE AND FEEDING BEHAVIOR OF MASTACEMBELUS ARMATUS", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 8, page no.359-368, August-2018, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1808047.pdf

"STUDY OF REPRODUCTIVE AND FEEDING BEHAVIOR OF MASTACEMBELUS ARMATUS", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 8, page no. pp359-368, August-2018, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1808047.pdf