Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of dietary moisture content on the growth and gastrointestinal evacuation of sub-adult olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) in the summer and winter seasons. In the first experiment, three experimental diets containing different moisture levels (7%, 15%) and additives were prepared by adding water and commercial additives (1% nutrients, 1% digestives) to commercial extruded pellets. Fish (initial weight: <TEX>$332{\pm}9.2$</TEX> g) were distributed randomly into six 3000 L tanks (25 fish/tank) in a flow-through tank system. Two replicate groups of fish were fed the experimental diets to satiation for 14 weeks during the summer season (<TEX>$21.4{\pm}2.5^{\circ}C$</TEX>). Survival, weight gain, feed efficiency, and daily feed intake did not differ significantly among groups. In the second experiment, two experimental diets containing different moisture levels (8%, 23%) were prepared by adding water to commercial extruded pellets. Fish (initial weight: <TEX>$646{\pm}6.7$</TEX> g) were randomly distributed into six 3000 L tanks (20 fish/tank) in a flow-through tank system. Three replicate groups of fish were fed the experimental diets to satiation for 19 weeks during the winter season (<TEX>$12.2{\pm}1.2^{\circ}C$</TEX>). Weight gain, feed efficiency, and daily feed intake did not differ significantly among groups. Gastrointestinal evacuation rates were determined after the end of the winter feeding trials. The stomach contents of fish fed diets containing different moisture levels peaked within 3 h after feeding and then decreased gradually over 40 h to approach pre-feeding levels. Intestinal contents began to accumulate 3 h after feeding and reached a maximum at 32 h, then declined until nearly complete evacuation around 56 h. The stomach contents reached moisture levels of approximately 70% within 3 h after feeding and then increased gradually. No considerable difference in moisture levels was observed in the stomach contents of fish fed diets with different moisture contents. The results of this study suggest that the gastric evacuation of sub-adult olive flounder was not affected by dietary moisture level and the addition of water to the diet had no beneficial effect on the growth of sub-adult olive flounder in the summer and winter seasons.

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