Feed management of pacu juveniles cultivated in net cages

Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate the feed management (feed percentage and feeding frequency) of pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) juveniles bred in net cages. To evaluate the feed percentage 2,000 juveniles (12.12±0.51 g) were randomly distributed in 20 cages of 1 m³ (0.8 m³ of useful volume). The fish were fed four times a day (8:00 a.m.; 11:00 a.m.; 2:00 p.m.; and 5:00 p.m.) with 4, 7, 10, 13, and 16% of feed. To evaluate feeding frequency, another 2,000 juveniles (9.56±0.56 g) were randomly distributed in 20 cages of 0.8 m³ of useful volume. The fish were fed one, two, three and four times a day. Due to the feed percentage, significant effects (P<0.05) were observed for the parameters of weight gain, final length, final biomass, specific growth rate, and apparent feed conversion. The performance parameters, centesimal composition, and blood biochemistry were not influenced (P>0.05) by the feeding frequency. Considering the weight gain and apparent feed conversion of pacu juveniles cultivated in net cages, 8% of feed is recommended regardless of the feeding frequency adopted.