Catch up and compensatory growth in juveniles of the redclaw Cherax quadricarinatus exposed to different diets

LIANE STUMPF; CAROLINA TROPEA; FERNANDO CASTILLO DÍAZ; LAURA LÓPEZ GRECO.

San José

Congreso; TCS-ALCARCINUS Summer Meeting, Costa Rica 2013; 2013

The Crustacean Society

ver Cd de resúmenes página 162Compensatory and catch up growth have been scarcely studied in crustaceans although they areconsidered useful tools to improve fish culture. The effect of two diets on compensatory and catchup growth in juveniles of Cherax quadricarinatus after cyclic feeding followed by continuous feeding, was evaluated. Diet A consisted of 49% crude protein, 5% crude lipid, 9% ash and 6% moisture, while Diet B consisted of 38% crude protein, 6% crude lipid, 16% ash and 4% moisture. For both diets juveniles were exposed to two regimes: C - fed every day for 120 days and 4F/4D - fed for 4 days then deprived for the next 4 days during 45 days (cyclic feeding) and after that, continuous feeding during 75 days. Body mass in 4F/4D juveniles significantly decreased at the end of cyclic feeding but at the end of continuous feeding period, all juveniles showed catch up growth compared to the control for both diets. During the continuous feeding period, specific growth rate of 4F/4D juveniles increased significantly showing a compensatory growth response. An increase in food conversion efficiency was also verified in 4F/4D during continuous feeding period when the survival was greater than 90% for both diets. Nutritional health was verified through the study of the structure, mass and index of thehepatopancreas showing that cyclic feeding does not cause alterations. Cyclic feeding periods could be applied under culture conditions in C. quadricarinatus juveniles improving yields.BID PICT 01187. PIP 129. UBACYT 2011-2014 (20020100100003)