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Empirical feed formulations for the marine ornamental fish, striped damsel, Dascyllus aruanus (Linné 1758) and their physical, chemical and nutritional evaluation
Author(s) -
Vijayagopal Pananghat,
Gopakumar Gangadharan Nair,
Vijayan Koyadan Kizhakedath
Publication year - 2008
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.1365-2109.2008.02039.x
Subject(s) - damselfish , biology , ornamental plant , shrimp , fish meal , zoology , meal , fishery , growth rate , protein efficiency ratio , feed conversion ratio , fish <actinopterygii> , botany , food science , body weight , mathematics , endocrinology , coral reef fish , geometry
Abstract Formulated feeds containing a common ingredient mixture (CIM) consisting of fishmeal (anchovies), shrimp meal ( Acetes ), squid meal ( Loligo ) and soybean meal incorporated in ascending levels to obtain protein levels ranging from 180 to 560 g kg −1 (18.34%, 25.35%, 36.27%, 46.61% and 56.28%) and an energy level of 19 MJ kg −1 were fed to the marine ornamental fish, striped damsel, Dascyllus aruanus <200 mg and 200–300 mg in size for periods of 35 and 63 days. The <200 mg fish accepted particles <0.5 mm in size and showed maximum growth in terms of absolute growth rate (AGR), relative growth rate (RGR) and specific growth rate (SGR) with the feed containing 380 g kg −1 CIM having a protein content of 362 g kg −1 . Second‐degree polynomial regression equations fitted confirmed these observations with a predicted requirement of 360 g kg −1 protein. In fish weighing 200–300 mg, growth was not significantly different ( P >0.05) in fish fed with feeds containing 380 and 580 g kg −1 CIM with 360 and 470 g kg −1 protein. With these data, the second‐degree polynomial regressions showed that a protein level of 464 g kg −1 would result in an RGR of 107%. The feeds were well accepted by the damselfish, showing good colour retention and health.The cost of the feeds excluding processing costs ranges from US $ 1.35 to 3.36 kg −1 . This is the first report on the development of formulated feeds for damselfish that would help in rearing and aquarium keeping of damselfish worldwide.