Effect of Feeding Frequency on Growth and Body Composition of Juvenile River Puffer, Takifugu obscurus in Winter season

Abstract

To survey the most feeding frequence of formulated diet as food for cultured puffer in winter season, we performed a rearing test using juveniles of river puffer, Takifugu obscurus (body weight 15.0 g) for 120 days. The feeding frequencies were set up as 2times/1day, 2times/2days, 2times/3days and 2times/4days. We tested triplicately the experiment and investigated survival rate, daily food intake (DFI), feed efficiency (FE), condition factor (CF), daily growth rate (DGR). Consequently, growth was increased following to an increasing of feeding frequency, was the fast in 2times/1day of feeding frequency, and was the slowest in 2times/4days (p<0.05). DFI and CF were increased following to an decreasing of feeding frequency and was the highest in 2times/4days of feeding frequency. FE was decreased following to an decreasing of feeding frequency, and was the highest in 2times/1day of feeding frequency. In a proximate carcass composition at the final day, moisture and crude lipid contents were the lowest in 2times/4days, and in survival, there was not any significant difference among experimental groups. Therefore, we concluded that the 2times/2days are the best of feeding frequency for economical benefit of river puffer culture in winter season.