Influence of Varying Dietary Protein Content at Three Lipid Concentrations on Growth Characteristics of Juvenile Swordtails (Xiphophorus helleri Heckel 1848)

D.P. Kruger, P.J. Britz, J. Sales-2001

Aquarium Sciences and Conservation, 3(4): 275-280

Abstract:

Three protein levels (30%, 38% and 45%) at three different dietary lipid concentrations (6%, 8% and 12%) were used to formulate nine different diets that were fed for 60 days to 6–8 weeks old juvenile swordtails (Xiphophorus helleri). It would appear that a diet of at least 45% protein at a 6% lipid concentration is needed for the best specific growth rate (1.27% per day) and feed conversion ratio (2.50) at this specific growth phase in X. helleri. No ‘protein sparing effect’ was found when lipid concentration was increased at lower protein levels.

(Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa)

home