Authors :
Ashish Ranjan; Ranjana; Pranaw Kanti; Akhilesh Kumar; Mukesh Kumar Rai
Volume/Issue :
Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 4 - April
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/5b3zeh96
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/67nf6uy8
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25apr1354
Google Scholar
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Abstract :
This study investigates the feeding ecology and behavioural adaptations of Channa gachua (dwarf snakehead) in
both captive and natural environments. By analyzing feeding habits, prey preferences, aggression, and social interactions,
the paper aims to highlight the ecological flexibility and behavioural plasticity of the species. Observations were conducted
over a 6-month period using controlled laboratory aquaria and natural habitat surveys in freshwater streams. The results
indicate significant differences in feeding frequency, prey selection, and behavioural patterns, influenced by environmental
variables such as habitat complexity, food availability, and competition. This research contributes to the understanding of
species-specific behaviours and provides valuable insights for conservation and aquaculture management of Channa gachua.
Keywords :
Channa gachua, Feeding Ecology, Behaviour, Aquaculture, Habitat, Predator-Prey Dynamics.
References :
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- Bhatt, J. P., & Pandit, M. K. (2016). Endangered fish species in Himalayan rivers: Distribution, threats and conservation. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 26(5), 838–852. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.2629
- Biswas, S. P., & Boruah, S. (2000). Ecology of the endangered Channa gachua (Hamilton-Buchanan) in Assam, India. Journal of Environmental Biology, 21(1), 9–13.
- Courtenay, W. R., Jr., & Williams, J. D. (2004). Snakeheads (Pisces, Channidae) – A biological synopsis and risk assessment. U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1251, 1–143.
- Froese, R., & Pauly, D. (Eds.). (2023). FishBase: Channa gachua. Retrieved from https://www.fishbase.se
- Hossain, M. A. R., & Wahab, M. A. (2010). Impacts of artificial feeding on growth and health status of carnivorous fishes in captivity. Aquaculture Nutrition, 16(1), 133–143. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2095.2009.00643.x
- IUCN. (2023). Channa gachua: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved from https://www.iucnredlist.org
- Kumar, R., Tandon, A., & Rani, S. (2019). Behavioral adaptations of snakehead fishes: A comparative ethological study. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, 57(5), 354–360.
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- Nair, C. M., & Bindu, L. (2005). Reproductive biology of the dwarf snakehead (Channa gachua) in the Vembanad Wetland, India. Indian Journal of Fisheries, 52(1), 81–85.
- Padial, A. A., et al. (2010). The multiple dimensions of biodiversity and its threats in freshwater ecosystems. Biological Reviews, 85(4), 545–567. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-185X.2009.00161.x
- Rahman, A. K. A. (2005). Freshwater Fishes of Bangladesh (2nd ed.). Zoological Society of Bangladesh.
- Rahman, M. M., & Sumi, K. R. (2018). Feeding preferences of Channa gachua under laboratory conditions. International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies, 6(1), 59–63.
- Ranjana and Rai, M.K. 2025. Scanning Electron Microscopy Unveils Profenofos as a Critical Stressor on the Gills of Channa gachua (Hamilton, 1822). Asian Journal of Research in Zoology. 8, 1 (Mar. 2025), 108–117. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajriz/2025/v8i1187.
- Sarkar, U. K., & Lakra, W. S. (2010). Biodiversity, ecohydrology, threat status and conservation priority of the freshwater fishes of river Gomti, a tributary of river Ganga in India. The Environmentalist, 30(1), 3–17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-009-9245-9
- Talwar, P. K., & Jhingran, A. G. (1991). Inland Fishes of India and Adjacent Countries (Vol. 1 & 2). Oxford and IBH Publishing Co.
- Vincent, A., & Kumar, M. R. (2021). Behavioral traits of Channa gachua under stress and feeding regimes in confined environments. Journal of Aquatic Biology & Fisheries, 9(1), 33–42.
This study investigates the feeding ecology and behavioural adaptations of Channa gachua (dwarf snakehead) in
both captive and natural environments. By analyzing feeding habits, prey preferences, aggression, and social interactions,
the paper aims to highlight the ecological flexibility and behavioural plasticity of the species. Observations were conducted
over a 6-month period using controlled laboratory aquaria and natural habitat surveys in freshwater streams. The results
indicate significant differences in feeding frequency, prey selection, and behavioural patterns, influenced by environmental
variables such as habitat complexity, food availability, and competition. This research contributes to the understanding of
species-specific behaviours and provides valuable insights for conservation and aquaculture management of Channa gachua.
Keywords :
Channa gachua, Feeding Ecology, Behaviour, Aquaculture, Habitat, Predator-Prey Dynamics.