Growth, Survival, and Body Composition of Largemouth Bass Fed Various CommercialDiets and Protein Concentrations

摘要

Aquaculturists often intensively culture fish species before the nutrientrequirements of the species are known. Largemouth bass Micropeterus salmoides have been cultured on pelleted diets since the 1960s, but growth and survival of fish on these diets have not been evaluated. We examined growth rate survival, and body composition of largemouth bass (initial total length, 110 mm) fed six commercial diets for 56 d. Largemouth bass fed diets for coolwater (W-16) and coldwater (Biodiet Grower) species grew faster than those fed diets formulated for bass (Black magic Bass Food and Biosponge Bass Grower). Whole body protein, lipid, moisture, and ash were affected by the type of commercial diet. Lipid levels were higher for fish fed Biodiet Grower than for fish fed all other diets. Based on this evaluation, we recommend either W-16 or Biodiet Grower for rearing largemouth bass. Because protein is one of the most important components affecting performance of pelleted diets, we conducted a second set of experiments over a 51-d period to evaluate growth rate, survival, and body composition of largemouth bass (initial total length, 98mm) fed four diets that ranged in protein concentration from 31 to 40 percent.