Food and feeding habits of Hippopotamyrus psittacus (Boulenger, 1897: Osteiglossiformes, Mormyridae) of Congo River at Kisangani (DR Congo)

Food and feeding habits of Hippopotamyrus psittacus (Boulenger, 1897; Pisces: Mormyridae) of Congo river has been undertaken from February to July 2007 by the stomach contents analysis. 44 H. psittacus ranging from 55 to 320 mm of length were captured in the Congo River (Wagenia Falls and Kikongo beach). The total length, the standard length and height of the body were measured with a ribbon meter and weighed using both bood scales of 0- 3000gr. Afterward, stomach contents were taken and conserved in the Laboratory for future analysis. Stomachs contents were examined using a binocular magnifying glass LEICA WILDHEERBRUGG Mg model with a magnification of 10 to x50. The stomachs contents analysis showed that H. psittacus is a carnivorous with an insectivorous tendency by feeding mainly on aquatic insects and other animals remnants. On the other side, the food regime of H. psittacus appeared more diversified during the relatively dry season periods. On the same way, the average stomach contents weight indicates that the feeding activity is more or less different during different season periods with an increasing feeding activity during the relatively dry season periods.