Feeding habits of rabbitfishes, Siganus canaliclatus and Siganus javus fingerlings from the Arabian Gulf waters off Qatar

Abstract

Seagrass and benthic filamentous algae constituted the main dietary components of Siganus canaliculatus and S. javus fingerlings. A considerable proportion of seagrass was found in the hind gut. The green alga Cladophora sericoides was the dominant alga in fish guts followed by brown and red algae. Foods of animal origin were less represented but frequency of their occurrence increased with the increase in size of fish.