Effect of feeding ratio on growth and body composition of juvenile olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus fed extruded pellets during the summer season

The effect of feeding ratio on growth and body composition of juvenile olive flounder fed extruded pellets was determined during the summer season. Thirty juvenile olive flounder (initial body weight of 17 g) per tank were distributed into 21, 180-l flow-through tanks. Seven treatments that included triplicate groups of feeding ratio in 5% decrement were prepared for this study: 100% (satiation), 95%, 90%, 85%, 80%, 75% and 70% of satiation. Fish in the control group were hand-fed to apparent satiation twice a day. Then feed allowance in the rest of the six groups was determined based on average feed consumption in the control group. The feeding trial lasted for 7 weeks. Survival was over 97% and was not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by the feeding ratios. Weight gain and SGR of fish fed to 100% of satiation were not significantly different from those fed to 95% of satiation but significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those of fish fed to 90%, 85%, 80%, 75% and 70% of satiation. Weight gain, SGR and feed consumption of flounder linearly (P < 0.001) decreased with a decrease in feeding ratio. However, feed efficiency ratio, protein efficiency ratio and protein retention in fish body were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by the feeding ratio. The crude protein levels of the whole body without liver or liver were significantly affected by the feeding ratio. Hepatosomatic index and condition factor of fish were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by the feeding ratio. It can be concluded that optimum feeding ratio for growth of juvenile olive flounder could be lowered to 95% of satiation without growth suppression.