This study had the objectives to evaluate the effects of different feeding rates on growth and survival of pejerrey (Odontesthes argentinensis). Pejerrey (100mg) were stocked at 10 fish L-1 into 50L circular tanks. Five feeding levels (4, 8, 12, 16 and 20% of body weight) were evaluated in duplicate during 30 days, plus a negative control, where the fish were not fed. During the experiment the temperature was 23°C, salinity 26‰ and the water was constantly aerated. Unfed fish died of starvation 20 days after the beginning of the experiment. However there were no significant differences (P>0.05) among fish undergone to other treatments until the end of the experiment, mortality was below 10%, independently of the ration level. After quadratic polynomial regressions of weight gain and feed efficiency versus ration, it is suggested that the optimum feeding level for pejerrey juveniles between 100mg to 500mg is 9.0% of the body weight.
feeding; fish culture; intensive rearing; feeding level; ration; growth; pejerrey; Odontesthes argentinensis
