A Study on Diet Composition and Feeding Habitats of Sillago sihama (Forsskål, 1775) in Coastal Waters of Bandar Abbas

The Diet Composition and Feeding habits of Sillago sihama , were studied in the northern Persian Gulf restricted to coastal waters of Bandar Abbas within 14 months period, from July 2007 up to Agust 2008. Biometrical and anatomical measurements were carried out, and biological surveys were conducted on 572 specimens (238 Male and 306 Female). These samples were collected from coastal waters of Bandar abbas by pool and line and Moshta. The measurements of the minimum and maximum total lengths and weights were 10.6 to 45.5 cm and 8.58 to 196.27 g, respectively. The calculated level of (R2) (correlations of total length & weight), indicated correlations between length and weight of this fish, and b was 2.75 that shows the growth is isometric. The results indicated that this species, having the Relative Length of Gut, RLG = 0.47± 0.15, is carnivorous. Examining the changes in the index of stomach emptiness by the percentage of CV = 59.88% indicates that this fish is Moderate feeder. Proven by the fact that benthose was taken as principle food, Crustsacean, Shrimps, and fish as secondary food and other kinds of food as random. Among the food items, benthose, crustaceans, razor clam, crab, shrimp, fish, poly cheat, oligocheat, clams, shells, detritus, hermit crab, cray fish, were 59.15, 12.82, 6.22, 5.99, 5.91, 3.09, 2.55, 2.05, 0.83, 0.56, 0.46, 0.20 and 0.16 respectivly. The level of feeding increased in February, before spawning and decreased in May, simultaneously with the spawning season.