Ikan gabus (Channa striata) merupakan salah satu ikan hasil tangkapan utama nelayan di Rawa Pening karena bernilai ekonomis tinggi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui komposisi dan preferensi pakan ikan gabus (Channa striata) di Perairan Rawa Pening Kabupaten Semarang. Sampel ikan gabus ditangkap menggunakan alat tangkap widik yang dioperasikan oleh nelayan setempat. Penangkapan ikan gabus dilakukan dari bulan Juni-Agustus 2018. Sampel ikan gabus dibawa ke laboratorium, kemudian diukur panjang total dan berat, ditentukan jenis kelamin, kemudian dibedah untuk diukur panjang usus dan diamati isi saluran pencernaan. Data dianalisis secara deskriptif yang meliputi distribusi frekuensi panjang total, panjang usus relatif, frekuensi kejadian, indeks bagian terbesar, tingkat trofik, luas relung makanan, dan tumpang tindih makanan. Hasil penelitian diperoleh sampel ikan gabus berjumlah 157 ekor dengan kisaran panjang antara 23,4-59,5 cm dan kisaran berat antara 82-1832 g . Komposisi makanan ikan gabus terdiri dari ikan (46%) dan krustasea (41%), sedangkan makanan tambahan adalah debris (6%), tumbuhan (6%), dan gastropoda (1%). Preferensi pakan ikan gabus betina berupa krustasea (52,08%), sedangkan ikan gabus jantan lebih menyukai pakan berupa ikan (75,03%). Ikan gabus merupakan ikan karnivora dengan panjang usus relatif berkisar 0,25-0,99 dan tingkat trofik sebesar 3,79. Luas relung makanan ikan gabus berkisar antara 1,16-1,91 dengan standarisasi 0,04-0,23. Nilai tumpang tindih makanan berkisar 0,364-0,855 yang menunjukkan adanya persaingan terhadap sumberdaya makanan.

Snakehead (Channa striata) is one of the main fish caught by fishermen in Rawa Pening because of its high economic value. The aim of this study was to determine the composition and food preference of snakehead (Channa striata) in the Rawa Pening, Semarang Regency. Samples of snakehead were captured using widik fishing gear operated by local fishermen. Snakehead was collected from June to August 2018. Fish samples were transferred to the laboratory, measured the total length and weight, determined sex, and then dissected to measure intestinal length and observed the contents of the digestive tract. Data were analyzed descriptively, namely frequency distribution of total length, relative intestinal length, frequency of occurrence, index of the largest part, trophic level, area of food niche, and food overlapping. The results showed that there were 157 individuals with total lenght ranged from 23,4-59,5 cm and the weight ranged from 82-1832 g. The food composition of snakehead consisted of fish (46%) and crustaceans (41%), while supplementary foods were debris (6%), plants (6%), and gastropods (1%). The food preference for female fish was crustaceans (52.08%), whereas male fish prefer fish (75.03%). Snakehead was a carnivorous fish with a relatively long intestine ranging from 0.25-0.99 and trophic level of 3.79. The area of snakehead food niches ranges from 1.16-1.91 with standardization from 0.04 to 0.23. The value of food overlapping ranges from 0.364 to 0.855 which indicates competition for food resources.

Kata Kunci : Ikan gabus, komposisi, preferensi pakan , Rawa Pening