Food consumption and absorption efficiency by newly settled summer flounder, Paralichthys dentatus (Linneaus, 1766)

Significant differences in the rates of consumption of brine shrimp (Artemia sp.) nauplii, on both a per-fish basis (447-5105 nauplii (day)− 1) and a weight-specific basis (12-49% body weight (day)− 1), absorption efficiency (46-96% of the consumed ration), and specific growth rate (1.08-10.79% body weight (day)− 1) existed among fish at each size. Significant differences were also found in food consumption between grade 1 and grade 3 fish within a cohort, although not at all fish sizes. There was no overall effect of cohort on food consumption (p = 0.083); however, significant differences in absorption efficiency among cohorts existed (p = 0.000). As expected, this study suggests that differences in the rates of food consumption directly influence growth rate variation in this species.