Food selection behaviour of potential biological agents to control intermediate host snails of schistosomiasis: Sargochromis codringtoni and Tilapia rendalli
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Abstract
The food selection behaviour of two fish species indigenous to Zimbabwe (Tilapia rendalli
and Sargochromis codringtoni) was studied under laboratory conditions with a view
to considering them as biological agents for snail control. Six glass aquaria were
set up and divided into two sets each with two aquaria. One S. codringtoni was introduced
into each aquarium of the first set while one T. rendalli was introduced into each
aquarium of the other set. In one of the aquaria of each set the fish were supplied
with snails and trout food. Snails and weeds were provided, but trout food was excluded
in the second aquarium of each set while the third aquarium for each set was provided
with trout food, snails and weeds. A fourth aquarium with weeds and snails but no
fish was set up as a control. Data collected over 9 weeks showed that T. rendalli
was primarily herbivorous while S. codringtoni was shown to be malacophagous. Presence
of trout food made no difference in the snail-eating habit of S. codringtoni or the
weed-eating behaviour of T. rendalli. However, trout food seemed to be a good protein
supplement to T. rendalli as the fish with access to trout food gained more weight
and length.