Feed management of juvenile Atlantic spadefish (Chaetodipterus faber)
Author: Artur Nishioka Rombenso (Currículo Lattes)
Supervisor: Dr Luís André Nassr de Sampaio
Co-supervisor: Dr Michael Schwarz
Abstract
The Atlantic spadefish Chaetodipterus faber Atlantic spadefish is an excellent candidate for the development of marine aquaculture, due to some characteristics such as: easy adaptation to confinement, good growth rates and good quality meat. As with any emerging aquaculture species, the success of breeding Atlantic spadefish will depend, in part, on meeting their nutritional needs and correct food management. Among the different feeding practices that can maximize feeding efficiency and growth are the feeding rate and feeding frequency. This study evaluated the growth performance of juvenile Atlantic spadefish (3.60 ± 0.03 g, mean ± SD) fed with 3, 5, or 7% of the biomass (3% BW, 5% BW, 7% BW ), in a single food (1x) or divide equally between three meals (3x). Weight gain,specific growth rate (TBI), feed conversion and food consumption were affected by both feed rate and feed frequency. Weight gain and TBI increased with the feeding rate, being higher in groups fed 3x a day than those fed 1x a day. Fish fed with higher feed rates accumulated more in the body at the expense of moisture, protein and ash content, but the composition of the carcass was not affected by feed frequency. The present study suggests that the food handling of Atlantic spadefish created in an intensive recirculation system, can be optimized when the food is offered in the proportion of 5-7% of the biomass / day in three daily feeds with 7% of the biomass / day for a higher growth, although less efficient