Satiation Time, Appetite, and Maximum Food Intake of Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)

Abstract

Three aspects of feeding relations in sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) were studied, using Abernathy pellets. When food was presented in excess at 15 C, mean satiation time was found to be 43 ± 8 min, independent of fish size. Voluntary food intake (appetite) increased with time, approaching a plateau after 25–30 hr deprivation. The greatest increase in appetite occurred between 7 and 11 hr of fasting. The relation between the capacity of the stomach (% body weight) and fish weight (grams) was exponential (Y = 14.1 − 4.95 log10X). Five-gram fish consumed 11% dry body weight at one feeding, and 17% on a daily basis.