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Growth and feeding of white steenbras, Lithognathus lithognathus (Cuvier) (Sparidae), under experimental culture conditions
Author(s) -
Harris S A,
Cook P A
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
aquaculture research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-2109
pISSN - 1355-557X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2109.1995.tb00920.x
Subject(s) - mariculture , biology , sparidae , zoology , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , aquaculture
Growth and feeding of white steenbras, Lithognathus lithognathus (Cuvier). under culture conditions was determined to assess its suitability for mariculture. Ration size ranged from 4.50% to 11.52% and from 1.67% 4.00% dry body weight for small (28 ± 2 g) and large (250 ± 23 g) fish, respectively. Condition factor ( K ) ranged from 1.19 to 1.35 and from 2.00 to 2.19 for small and large fish, respectively. Specific growth rate ( SGR ) at 16°C was 0.60% day −1 for 28‐g fish, 0.29% day −1 for a 74‐g fish, and 0.19% day −1 for a 250‐g fish. Gross conversion efficiency ( GCE ) was inefficient at high feeding levels (21.3%) compared with low feeding levels (32.6%). Proximate body composition in terms of moisture, protein. lipid, ash and energy were not significantly affected by feeding regime or temperature (P > 0.05). The experiments indicate that feeding regimes should be maintained at relatively low levels to obtain optimum K, GCE and SGR , and to avoid over‐feeding and food wastage. It was concluded that L. lithognathus could be a suitable candidate for mariculture.