Growth and feed utilization of captive wild black sea bass Centropristis striata at four different densities in a recirculating tank system

摘要

A study to determine the effects of four stocking densities on growth and feed utilization of wild-caught black sea bass Centropristis striata was conducted in a pilot-scale recirculating tank system. The outdoor system consisted of 12 insulated fiberglass tanks (dia. = 1.85 m; vol. = 2.17 m(3)) supported by biological filters, UV sterilizers, and heat pumps. Subadults (N = 525; x +/- SD = 249 +/- 16.8 g) were stocked at densities of 4.6 fish/m(3) (1.18 kg/m(3)), 16 fish/m(3) (3.91 kg/m(3)), 25.3 fish/m(3) (6.83 kg/m(3)). and 36 fish/m(3) (7.95 kg/m(3)), with three replicate tanks per treatment. Fish were grown under 35 ppt salinity, 21-25 C, and under ambient photoperiod conditions. A commercial flounder diet containing 50% protein and 12% lipid was hand-fed twice daily to satiation for 201 d.