en aquaculture aquaculture پژوهشي Orginal research papers <p> <i> Neogobius caspius </i>is an endemic species of the Caspian Sea which plays an important role in food chain as a predatory fish. The main aim of this study was to investigate selected feeding characteristics of <i>Neogobius caspius</i> in the south west coasts of the Caspian Sea. Monthly sampling was carried out using a bottom trawler at three stations (Astara, Anzali and Chabuksar) in three depths (0-5, 5-10 and 10-15m) on a monthly basis from October 2004 to September 2005. Relative gut length (RLG) was less than one suggesting that this species is carnivorous. RLG was significantly lower in older fish but gut length was longer (P<0.05). I ntensity of fullness was below the favorite degree (IF<400) from October to March, however, it was higher (400<IF<900) from April to October at all stations, indicating that feeding conditions for this species is suitable in the study area.Study showed that <i>N. caspius </i>mainly fed on molluscs (Food preference, FP=100%), worms (FP=89%) and crustaceans (FP=74%), hence, this species is considered as euryphagus species. </p> caspius, Feeding characteristics, Relative gut length, Food preference, Caspian Sea, Iran 127 140 http://jifro.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1-25&slc_lang=en&sid=1 A. Sarpanah Sarkohi a_sarpanah@yahoo.com 10031947532846001929 10031947532846001929 Yes G. R. Ghasemzadeh 10031947532846001930 10031947532846001930 No S. A. Nezami 10031947532846001931 10031947532846001931 No A. Shabani 10031947532846001932 10031947532846001932 No A. Christianus 10031947532846001933 10031947532846001933 No B. Shabanpour 10031947532846001934 10031947532846001934 No Chi Roos Bin Saad 10031947532846001935 10031947532846001935 No