Effect of feeding frequencies on carp growth rate - preliminary results

Abstract

The success of production in aquaculture depends on the water quality, the fish fry but also on the skillfulness of the producers in achieving a profitable production while applying the most optimal technology. One of the producer's dilemmas, when applying feed, is the dynamics of supplemental feeding of fish. This was the reason for carrying out an experiment at the laboratory for fish nutrition at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade (Serbia). In three experimental groups, during 60 days, carp weight in correlation to the dynamics of feeding was studied. For the first group, feed was available to fish once a day, during 60 min, the second group had feed available twice a day, during 60 min, and the third group had feed available during 12 hours continuously. The results showed that there was a significant difference in the weight between the three experimental groups. The weight of fish from the first group was 41.47%, for the second group was 50.42%, and for the third 87.79%, respectfully, in relation to the stocking ichthyomass. According to the t-test the average weight of the first and second group was not statistically different but they were very significantly lower from the average weight of fish that had feed available 12 hours daily.