An Evaluation of Feeds for Raising Razorback Sucker, Xyrauchen texanus

Abstract

Razorback sucker fry were raised for 126 days and fed five diets for three time periods: in Phase I fish were fed BioKyowa-B from day 5 to day 25 (post-hatching); in Phase II (day 26 to day 52), fish were fed either BioKyowa-A, Bio-Dry, AP-100, or Silver Cup Salmon Starter; during Phase III (days 53-126), fish were fed either BioKyowa-A or Silver Cup Salmon Starter. In Phase I, the fish doubled in body weight and had high survival (96%). In Phase II, BioKyowa A-250 produced better weight gain than the other rations and higher survival then Silver Cup Salmon STarter. In Phase III, fish fed BioKyowa-A gained more weight than fish fed Silver Cup Salmon Starter, and survival of fish fed Biokyowa-A in Phase II remained high (96.7%) in Phase III. Razorback sucker can be raised successfully for 126 days in BioKyowa B0259 is used for the first 25 days, followed by BioKyowa A-250 to day 71 and then BioKyowa A-400 to day 126. Some spinal and muscular deformities were detected in fish fed all diets, presumably due to vitamin deficiencies. These might be reduced by providing extra vitamins or by storing feeds for only short periods.