Effects of Feeding Time on Growth, Survival, and Food Conversion Ratio of Huso huso Fingerlings

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the effect of feeding time on growth parameters, food conversion ratio, and survival rate of Huso huso fingerlings (2.11 ± 0.03 g) over a period of five weeks. Fish in triplicate tanks were fed a commercial pelleted diet four times every 24 h on one of four schedules: at 08:00, 11:00, 14:00, and 17:00 h (day feeding); at 08:00, 12:00, 18:00, and 22:00 h (day/night feeding); at 18:00, 21:00, 24:00, and 06:00 h (night feeding); or at 08:00, 12:00, 18:00, and 22:00 h (full dark feeding). At the end of the experimental period, fish in the day-fed group had significantly (P < 0.05) better final weight, daily growth rate, specific growth rate, survival, condition factor, and food conversion ratio than day/night and night-fed groups. Performance of fish fed under full dark conditions was intermediate between day-fed and the other groups. In terms of rearing costs, daytime feeding of Huso huso is the most efficient.

Keywords:

• Daily and nightly feeding
• feeding time
• growth parameters
• Huso Huso fingerlings

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Aquaculture Research Center of Gorgan University for the use of equipment.