Kebiasaan Makan Ikan Belanak (Chelon suviridis) Yang Tertangkap Di Kecamatan Pangkalan Susu, Kabupaten Langkat, Provinsi Sumatera Utara

Abstract

The mullet fish (Chelon suviridis) is one of the economically important fish species commonly found in brackish and estuarine waters of Indonesia, including in Pangkalan Susu Subdistrict, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra Province. Although its population is relatively abundant, information regarding the feeding habits of this species in the area remains limited. Understanding the feeding patterns of fish is essential to determine their ecological role in the food chain and to support sustainable fisheries resource management. This study aims to determine the feeding habits of mullet fish (Chelon suviridis) caught in Pangkalan Susu Subdistrict, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra Province. The research was conducted from June to August 2024 with a total of 130 fish samples, having total lengths ranging from 130–148 mm. The growth pattern of Chelon suviridis was identified as negative allometric, indicating that length growth is more dominant than weight increase. The condition factor ranged from 0.663 to 1.191 with an average of 0.908, classifying the fish as laterally flat. The sex ratio was unbalanced, and the gonad maturity level ranged from stage I to stage IV. The relative gut length (RGL) value was 1.67, indicating that the mullet fish is an omnivorous species. The stomach fullness index (ISC) during the three-month study ranged from 5.40 to 10.30. The main food items of Chelon suviridis were phytoplankton, with zooplankton as supplementary food, and worms and detritus as additional food sources.