The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of feed deprivation on juvenile tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) growth parameters and body composition. In a complete randomized design, one hundred and eighty fishes, weighting 75.68±8.62 g were maintained in twelve 180-L tanks and submitted to four feed deprivation periods (0, 14, 21 and 28 days). Average fish weight at the end of feed deprivation period tended to be lower as deprivation period increased. At the end of the experiment only the fishes submitted to 14 days of feed deprivation attained similar weight to fish fed without restriction. Condition factor did not show any differences among treatments at the final of the deprivation period or at the end of the experiment. Specific growth rates and hepatosomatic index were similar among all treatments. Fish submitted to deprivation showed the highest daily feed consumption and lower feed efficiency values. Moisture and body protein contents were higher when feed deprivation increased but there was not a significant variation among ether extract levels. Tambaqui juveniles display compensatory growth when submitted to feed deprivation.
Colossoma macropomum; fish nutrition; fish culture; body composition
