FEEDING FREQUENCY IN REARING JUVENILES OF SURUVI Steindachneridion scriptum

Abstract

The present study aimed to determine the ideal feeding frequency of feeding for suruvi juvenile. A study was conducted over 60 days to determine the effects of feeding frequency on growth metrics, body composition, and digestive enzyme activity of juvenile suruvi (initial mean weight: 60.19 ± 10.67 g). The experimental units were 1.0 m3 circular tanks, stocked with 94 fish, connected to a recirculating aquaculture system. The feed was offered during the dark phase of the 12:12 photoperiod with the following treatments in triplicate: FF1 = once a day at 20:00; FF2 = twice a day at 20:00 h and 06:00 h; and FF3 = three times a day at 20:00 h, 01:00 h, and 06:00 h. The fish fed a commercial carnivorous fish feed, comprised of 42% crude protein, 11% lipids, 20% carbohydrates, and 4,380 kcal kg-1 of crude energy in 6.0 mm pellets. At the end of the feeding, no significant differences were observed in the growth variables, body composition of proteins and lipids, and alkaline proteases and lipase activity (p>0.05) between treatments. However, there were significant differences in amylase activity (p<0.05). Our findings demonstrated that suruvi juveniles could be sustainably fed only once a day.