Abstract
The meagre is a carnivorous species and might be a suitable candidate species for the diversification of aquaculture in the Mediterranean region. This is based on its high growth and flesh quality. Nevertheless, there is little information available about its growth rates and nutrient requirements. The objective of this study was to determine the protein and energy requirements of juvenile meagre (Argyrosomus regius). Two trials for different weights of 53 and 188 g were conducted with rations from starvation to apparent satiation with the scope of studying its nutritional needs. In the first trial, the initial mean body weight of the fish was 53 g, and they were fed at feeding rates, measured as a percentage of the body weight, of 0, 0.75, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5%, with two replicates per treatment. In a second trial, another group with approximately 188 g of initial body weight was fed at feeding rates of 0, 0.5, 1.5, and 2.5%, with two replicates per treatment. The optimum thermal growth coefficient was obtained with a feed intake of 2.2% day-1 in trial A and 1.73% day-1 in trial B. The digestible protein (DP) intake for maintenance was determined as 0.57 g kg-0.7 day-1, the DP intake for maximum growth was 6.0 g kg-0.7 day-1, and the point for maximum efficiency in protein retention was 1.8 g kg-0.7 day-1. The requirement for digestible energy (DE) intake for maintenance was recorded at 25.4 kJ kg-0.82 day-1, the DE intake to maximize growth was 365 kJ kg-0.82 day-1, and the point for maximum efficiency in energy retention occurs with a digestible energy intake of 93 kJ kg-0.82 day-1. The requirements and retention efficiency of protein and energy in Argyrosomus regius tend to be within the range other fish species. The maintenance needs are in agreement with species with low voluntary activity and growth requirements in agreement with fast-growth species.
Highlights
The meagre (Argyrosomus regius) is an emerging species with 15,000 tons of production in the Mediterranean region [1,2,3,4] given its high growth rate and flesh quality
A, the final weight of fish fed at a feeding rate of 0.75% was the lowest (57 g), and the meagre fed at the highest feeding rate (4.5%) obtained the highest final body weight (81 g), there were no significant differences in theorical feeding rates between 1.5 and
In trial A, fish fed at 0.75% obtained the lowest thermal growth coefficient (TGC) (0.27 × 10−3 ), and there were no significant differences observed among fish fed at rates of 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5% (TGC of 1.25 × 10−3, 1.69 × 10−3, and 1.4 × 10−3, respectively)
Summary
The meagre (Argyrosomus regius) is an emerging species with 15,000 tons of production in the Mediterranean region [1,2,3,4] given its high growth rate and flesh quality. Chatzifotis et al [9] obtained a specific growth rate (SGR) ranging between 0.7 and 1.3% day−1 for fish with final weights between 46 and 72 g; if this data referred to thermal growth coefficient (TGC), these values would range between 1.3 × 10−3 and 1.98 × 10−3. The highest growth was obtained with the highest dietary protein level studied (50% crude protein (CP)) and Martínez-Llorens et al [7] found that fish fed with a commercial diet with 47% of crude protein and 20% of crude lipid showed the best results in meagre growth. Information on its growth rates and nutrient requirements are scarce
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