This research was conducted to evaluate different feeding levels, as percentage of body weight (BW), for "trairão" (Hoplia lacerdae) juveniles in the beginning of fattening phase. Fishes with 15.0 ± 1.0 cm and of 38.5 ± 8.2 g were allotted to six 250 L aquaria each, with five juveniles/aquarium. A completely randomized design with three treatments and two replicates was used. The used feeding levels were 2.0; 4.0 and 6.0% BW of rations per day. The juveniles were fed with commercial extruded diets (42.0% CP), at 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.. At the end of 45 days, survival, apparent feed conversion ratio, biomass gain, average daily gain and length gain were evaluated. No effects on survival, biomass gain, average daily gain and length gain were observed. There was difference for apparent feed conversion as a function of the adopted management. The best performance results were observed for fish fed 2 and 4% BW of ration daily. The best feeding level for "trairão" juvenile is 4 %BW.
artificial diets; carnivorous fish; feed management; performance
