This work determined the effect of food restriction and refeeding on the body weight, gonadal maturation and muscle composition of matrinxã, Brycon cephalus, throughout a year (Jan 1998 to Jan 1999). A total of 135 fish, males and females, were split out into two groups. The control group received ration daily up to apparent satiation and the experimental group was alternately fed for 3 days and starved for 2 days (40% of restriction monthly). Seven samplings were carried out, during the experimental period, and at each sampling, after 18-24 hours starving, 8-10 fish were weighed, anesthetized and sacrificed for collection of gonads (gonadosomatic index (GSI), fish sex and reproductive stages) and white and red muscles (determination crude protein, total lipid, dry matter and moisture). The alternate food restriction and refeeding did not affect body weight, gonadal maturation and centesimal composition of muscles of matrinxã. Total lipid, crude protein, dry matter and moisture values remained unchanged face to the lower ration offer. The data showed that the restriction strategy might have triggered mechanisms of metabolic adjustment to improve the utilization of the feeding and to sustain the body homeostasis. The study suggest it is possible to establish economically advantageous feeding schemes for Brycon cephalus without affecting growth, reproduction and carcass composition.
Brycon cephalus; food restriction; gonadal development; muscle composition
