Optimal feeding frequency for Heros severus (Heckel, 1840), an Amazon ornamental fish

Abstract

The influence of feeding frequency on growth performance, batch uniformity, and survival rate of severum (Heros severus) larvae and juveniles was investigated in two experiments. In the first, 200 five-day-old severum larvae with 3.20±0.31 mg and 6.20±0.39 mm were randomly distributed into 20 aquaria (1 L) and fed 500 Artemia nauplii larvae −1 day −1 for 15 days. In the second, 120 severum juveniles, 178.19±33.59 mg and 1.82±0.09 cm, were randomly distributed into 15 aquaria (300 L) and hand-fed a commercial diet (400.0 g kg −1 crude protein and 21.2 kJ g −1 gross energy) until apparent satiety for 30 days. For both experiments, feeding frequencies of one, two, three, four, and five meals day −1 were evaluated. We used four replicates for the first experiment and three for the second. At the end of both experiments, survival rate and batch uniformity were unaffected by the feeding frequency. Severum larvae fed three, four, and five meals day −1 showed higher final weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate, but only the larvae fed five meals day −1 showed higher final length and length gain than those fed once and twice day −1. Severum juveniles fed two, four, and five meals day −1 showed higher final weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate. Growth performance parameters of final length and length gain were not affected by feeding frequencies. Thus, we recommend that the optimal feeding frequency for severum larvae fed Artemia nauplii is three meals day −1 and for juvenile severum fed a commercial diet, the optimal frequency is two meals day −1 .

Growth performance and hematological parameters of banded cichlid Heros severus fed at different feeding rates and feeding frequencies

“…Paixão et al (2019) reported that the uniformity of length and weight of severum ( H. severus ) did not show significant differences at the end of 30 days regardless of feeding frequency, however the results of present study, uniformity of the weight of banded cichlid was decreased after 90 days, which is caused by the lower availability of food and competition within of trial unit. According to Wang et al (1998), smaller feeding frequency can favor a smaller number of fish into rearing system, making it less uniform.…”

“…Growth performance of H. severus submitted to feeding frequency two and four times a day have no statistical difference ( p > 0.05) as observed by Paixão et al (2019), juveniles of Jundiá Rhamdia quelen reared in excavated tank (Canton Weingartner et al, 2007), production of robalo‐peva Centropomus parallellus in fresh water (Corrêa Gervazio et al, 2010) and rearing of tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Santos et al, 2014).…”

Salinized water as a strategy for increase stocking density in Heros severus larviculture, an Amazonian ornamental fish

“…However, the electrical conductivity in the treatments without addition of salt was 0.34 ± 0.11 mS cm -1 , whereas in those that had the salinized water the values were of 4.98 ± 0.28 mS cm -1 and 9.81 ± 0.17 mS cm -1 for 3 and 6 g L -1 of salt, respectively. Nevertheless, the parameters of water quality remained within the appropriate condition for H. severus larviculture (Eiras et al, 2019;Paixão et al, 2019).…”

Evaluation of growth development and pigmentation of Heros severus cultured in a biofloc system with enriched pigment diets

“…In that sense, Heros severus stand out as a specie with high potential for the ornamental market due to its calm behavior, quick adaptation to new environments, easy reproduction, and beautiful coloration (Alishahi et al 2014, Veras et al 2016. In its natural habitat, H. severus is associated with areas with high vegetation and feeds on small invertebrates and vegetal material (Soares et al 2019).…”