Growth Response of Juvenile Bluegills when Fed at Different Frequency and Delivery Methods

Abstract

Bluegills Lepomis macrochirus (mean weight ± SE = 1.43 ± 0.01 g) within an indoor recirculating aquaculture system were fed a commercial feed 6 d/week by one of the following seven feeding regimes: hand fed once at 1200 hours (HF1); hand fed twice at 0800 and 1600 hours (HF2); hand fed three times at 0800, 1200, and 1600 hours (HF3); hand fed four times at 0800, 1040, 1320, and 1600 hours (HF4S); hand fed four times at 0800, 1200, 1600, and 2000 hours (HF4L); fed with a 12-h belt feeder (BF12); and fed with a 24-h belt feeder (BF24). After 8 weeks of feeding, Bluegill final weight, percent weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), and feed intake increased significantly with increased hand-feeding frequency. No significant differences occurred in growth and feed utilization between the two belt-feeding regimes, and those fish had similar growth and feed utilization as the fish in HF2. Bluegills in HF4S and HF4L had significantly higher final weight, percent weight gain, SGR, and feed intake than all other treatments. Survival exceeded 96% for all treatments. This study suggests that during a 12-h feeding regime, four feedings evenly spaced support optimal growth of juvenile Bluegills when water temperature is maintained at 25°C.