Food and feeding habits of fishes have a great significance in aquaculture practices. It helps to select such species of fishes for culture which will utilize all the available potential food of the water bodies without much competition with one another but will live in association with other fishes. This paper deals with the feeding intensity and food habits of L. bata . Food and feeding habit of freshwater minor carp Labeo bata (120 to 250 mm total length) were studied. The fish is a herbivore, feeding mainly on algae (22.32 %), higher plant parts (31.26 %), protozoans (7.42 %), crustaceans (15.33 %), insects (3.56 %), muds, sand, debris and detritus (16.32 %) and unidentified food materials (3.99%). [Journal of Science Foundation, 2014;12(1):7-15]

This study described some biological parameters including lengths, length-length relationships and Fulton’s condition factors of Gagata cenia in the Padma River of Bangladesh, based on 1120 specimens collected from May to November, 2012. Maximum 39.78% female fishes were belonging to the length category of 55-60 mm whereas 51.06% male were belonging to 50-55 mm. The highest mean total lengths were found 66.51±10.28 mm (combined sex), 70.12±09.49 mm (female) and 61.08±09.45 mm (male) in the month of June. Similar findings are also presented for standard length, fork length, body depth, dorsal length, pectoral length, pelvic length and anal length. Linear relationships were also studied among mentioned lengths. Strong positive correlations were observed in all cases. Speraman’s Rank test indicated that there was a strong, positive correlation between total length and condition factor in female, which was statistically significant (rs=0.210, P=0.044). In male, there was no significant correlation between these two (rs=0.167, P=0.262). The Mann-Whitney U-test showed that the female individuals had the highest condition factor (Mean rank of 79.76). There was a statistically significant differences in the Fulton’s condition factor between males and females (two tailed, Mann-Whitney U = 1324).

The Padma River is one of the longest rivers and it is believed to be an important spawning and feeding ground for riverine fish species of Bangladesh. This study was conducted from February 2013 to January 2014 and with a view to revealing the diversity of fish fauna in the river. A total of 71 species were recorded belonging to 10 orders, 26 families and 54 genera. The most dominant fish order was Cypriniformes contributing 28 species in 16 genera. Cyprinidae was most dominant family contributing 23 species in 16 genera. Four alien species were found. Twenty eight species have been considered threatened by IUCN Bangladesh. These fishes were belonging to the following categories, Vulnerable (13%), Endangered (18%) and Critically Endangered (8%). Comparing the results with the previous findings, it was revealed that the species diversity have declined in the Padma River over time. Considering all the findings it is concluded that the Padma River could be considered a refuge for conservation of threatened freshwater fishes of Bangladesh. The conservation efforts should ensure minimization of anthropogenic impacts, especially the fishing pressure and introduction of alien invasive species.

This study was carried out in the Mahananda River from January to December 2013 with a view to determining the seasonal variation and community structure of fishes along with some conservation issues. Monthly sampling was carried out using traditional fishing gears and fishes were identified based on morphometric and meristic characters. A total of 4082 individuals of native fish species were captured, analyzed and classified into 62 species belonging to 46 genera, 25 families and 9 orders. Cypriniformes and Siluriformes were the dominant fish orders represented by 19 species each and the most abundant family was Cyprinidae (14 species). In addition to indigenous individuals, 9 individuals of 2 exotic fish species (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and Pangasius hypophthalmus) were also recorded. Among three sampling sites, S-1 was the most diversified in terms of not only the number of individual fish but also the number of species present represented by mean (±SE) individuals of 151.50±25.22 and species of 25.58±3.91. Three distinct fish groups of fish families were revealed from the cluster analysis of similarity. To improve the situation, control of illegal fishing gears, establishment of sanctuaries and legal protection for threatened species are recommended.

A total of 2200 specimens of Labeo bata (Ham.) were collected from rivers, beel and ponds of different local areas of Rajshahi region of Bangladesh during February 2007 to January 2009. For the study of reproductive cycle of L. bata, 1263 females (mature and immature) were used and the reproductive cycle was estimated. From this observation it was obvious that September to March was the breeding season but Peak in June to August for this species. Further observation reveals that no gravid female was found during the months from October to January of this study period. It was found that L. bata spawns once a year. The species is considered as major fresh water (Small indigenous species) fish in this country. So it is regarded as an excellent food for the people.L. bata, because of its fresh water nature it received no attention in the scientific literature despite of its prominence among the fresh water fish and economic importance in the Indo-Pak-Bangladesh sub continent. It may also be mentioned here that no work has been done on reproductive cycle of this fish till now in this country although several workers have made significant contribution to the reproduction cycle in different fishes Alikundi ( Sexual developments involve the maturation of structural, physiological and behavioral machinery concerned with mating and reproduction and controlled by sex hormones (Charniaux 1954, Adiyodi andAdiyodi 1974). It is evident that like all other population of fishes, L. bata is on the decrease due to natural and other factors. A study of reproduction biology of L. bata is found to be essential in the sense that it may provide information and clues for a tactful and skilful culture and fishing of this species. The present study is aimed at providing a comprehensive account of the reproductive biology of L. bata.Reproductive behavior in fishes is cyclic more or less regularly periodic (Lagler et al. 1967). The reproductive act in some fishes occurs only once in a very short life time, while in other fishes, it occurs in moderately long life span. Several other species spawn more than once in a year more or less continually. After spawning new group of oocytes is formed, which gradually mature to become ready for the next season.Reproductive cycle of fishes depend upon several factors. Both light and temperature are important factors in controlling the maturation of gonads in fishes. Variation in the duration of light and temperature may influence the rate of gonadal development. According to Kinne (1971), most of the stages of reproduction often depend on certain condition of water movement. In rainy season particularly in June and July months after a heavy shower, the physico-chemical condition of water bodies abruptly changes and which in turn probably  Corresponding address E-mail: raz2006_ru@yahoo.com Joadder 138 stimulates spawning in most of the freshwater fishes (Jhingran 1977). Total length and ungutted weights of the fish were recorded to the nearest 1mm and 1g with the help of an electronic balance (Mfd. BY ...