Food Habits and Condition Factor of the Yellow-Finned Medaka (Oryzias profundicola) from Lake Towuti, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.

The main objective of the present study was to analyze food habits and condition factors of yellow-finned medaka (Oryzias profundicola) in Lake Towuti. This research was conducted from January to June 2022. Locations of fish sampling in Tanjung Timbala; Tanjung Lengkobutanga; Tanjung Bakara,Tanjung. Saone and Tanjung Tominanga at Lake Towuti, South Sulawesi Indonesia. The total number of O.profundicola analyzed for food habits is 100 specimens (male = 50, female = 50).  The tools used to take samples are "seser nets.  The total length of the fish was measured using a digital caliper, and the total weight was measured using a scale with an accuracy of 0.01 g. The food type was calculated as the Relative Length of the Gut (RLG).  Food habit was used by numerical method and the condition factor was estimated by the relationships between total length and body weight. RGL ranged from 1.77 to 1.79 for males with a total length of 4.97-5.03 cm and RGL ranged from  1.71 to 1. 79 for females with a total length of 4.35-5.35 cm. The gut contents of O.profundicola fish were of the Ochterra humilis, Skeletonema, Limulus, Chlorella, Sinedra, Anabaena, Thalassionema, Coscinodiscus, Navicula, Rhyzosolenia , Merismopedia, and Diatoma. The yellow-finned medaka fish were found to be omnivorous. The condition factor ranged from 1.40 to 1.53 for males and 1.09 to 1.13 for females. The condition factor was found the best for evaluating the well-being of this species in Lake Towuti. The outcomes of the study will be used to determine for future management of medaka fish to ensure its sustainability in Lake Towuti, especially the domestication of O.profundicola.