T 1 EFFECT OF FEEDING TE ON THE GROWTH, FOOD CONVERSION PROTEIN EFFICIENCY OF SILVER DOLLAR, METYNNIS SCHREITMULLERI ( L), FRY
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Abstract
A 30-day experiment was conducted to determine the effects of varying
feeding rates on the growth of fry of silver dollar, Metynnis schreitmulleri
(Ahl). Silver dollar fry with an average initial body weight of 1.100 ± 0.029g
were collected from a local fish breeder and fed a diet (35% protein and 6%
fat) at the rate of 3, 6 and 9% of body weight per day in two equal meals. Per
cent weight gain increased from 54.54 to 118.18 with increased feeding rates,
which were significantly different (p<0.05) from each other. The highest
specific growth rate was obtained' in the fry fed at 9% body weight per day.
In another study for 30 days, the effects of feeding frequency on growth, feed
conversion and protein efficiency of silver dollar fry were evaluated. Groups
of silver dollar fry with an initial individual weight of 0.700 ± 0.019 g were
offered feed continuously for 24 hours during the day or night at different
time intervals with varying meal sizes. The night time feeding with two
meals gave the lowest weight and length gains (0.985 g and 0.30 cm). The
growth rates of fish fed during day with three equal-sized meals are
significantly (p<0.05) higher (4.66%) than the other treatments.
Keywords: Silver dollar, feed ration, feeding frequency