Feeding Rate and Frequency Affect Growth of Juvenile Atlantic Spadefish, An Emerging Aquaculture Species

The Atlantic spadefish Chaetodipterus faber is an excellent candidate for aquaculture development, but success will depend on the identification of proper feeds and feeding regimens for this species.  Accordingly, we evaluated the growth performance of juveniles (3.60 ± 0.03 g, mean ± SE) fed at 3, 5, or 7% of body weight (3% BW, 5% BW, 7% BW), either in a single feeding (1×) or divided equally among three feedings (3×).  Weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, and feed intake were significantly affected by both feeding rate and frequency.  Weight gain and SGR increased significantly with feeding rate, and growth was generally greater and more efficient in the 3× groups than the 1× groups.  Fish fed at higher feeding rates accumulated more lipid within the body at the expense of moisture, protein, and ash content, but carcass composition was unaffected by feeding frequency.  We suggest that the growth of juvenile Atlantic spadefish may be optimized when fed at 5-7% BW / day in 3 daily feedings, with 7% BW / day yielding the greatest, albeit slightly less efficient, growth.