Effect of feeding regimen on the food consumption, growth, and body composition in hybrid striped bass Morone saxatilis x M. chrysops

Abstract

Juveniles (averaging 12.5 g) hybrid striped bass Morone saxatilis x M. chrysops were reared for 56 days to compare the performance among the six feeding regimens: one meal daily (M1), two meals daily (M2/D; both during daylight), two meals daily (M2/N; one at daylight and the other at night), three meals daily with three-hour meal interval (M3/3), three meals daily with six-hour meal interval (M3/6), and four meals daily (M4). The maximum specific growth rate occurred with the group fed three meals daily. The elevation in the feeding frequency resulted in increased food intake but decreased feed conversion efficiency. The total food consumption was higher but the quantity of food eaten per feeding was observed to be lower in the fish fed frequently. A slightly lower size variation was indicated in fish fed higher feeding frequencies. In addition, body moisture and lipid contents were affected by the feeding regimen, whereas protein and ash contents were not. However, the effect of the feeding regimen on morphological measurements, muscle ratio, hepatosomatic index, viscerosomatic index, and condition factor was not found to be significant. Based on the results of this study, the total amount of food eaten was significantly greater during the day than at night, and the best growth for hybrid striped bass was at three meals daily when food deprivation time was equal to six hours under the condition used in this study.