The effect of feeding frequency and feeding rate on growth performance of juvenile Black Sea Turbot (Psetta maxima, Linneaus, 1758)

Abstract

The effects of feeding frequency on growth performance, feed efficiency and size variation of juvenile Black Sea turbot, Psetta maxima were investigated. A factorial design of two feeding rates (ad libitum, n=240, weight=23.8 ±0.70 g and total length=11.0 ±0.09 cm; and 1% of bo- dyweight of fish per meal, n=240, weight=38.6 ±0.45 g and total length=13.0 ±0.03 cm) and three feeding frequencies (one meal in 2 days, one meal a day, two meals a day) with two rep- licates of each treatment combination were applied in this experiment. Feeding frequencies did not affect fish survival rates (P>0.05). The final body weight and specific growth rate (SGR) were higher in group one meal a day at both feeding rates. There were no significant differ- ences the final body weight and SGR values among the groups (P>0.05). Similar responses were observed for condition factor, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and body weight increase (BWI), and the best FCR and BWI were obtained in the same group. The coefficient of varia- tions (CV) in fish weight increased between initial and final weightings in all replicate groups. However, the CV of fish weight was not significantly affected by feeding frequency (P>0.05). In conclusion, growth performance, SGR and FCR were better in once-daily feeding, and it ap- pears that under the conditions of this experiment, feeding once a day to satiation was suffi- cient for maximal growth.