Effect of diets on growth and reproductive development of juvenile pikeperch, Stizostedion lucioperca (L.), reared under intensive culture conditions

Abstract

Juvenile pikeperch 3.66 ± 0.23 cm total length (TL) and 0.32 ± 0.05 g were reared in water at 22 ± 0.5°C and fed with live zooplankton or alternatively a commercial trout feed. Fish fed with dry diet grew faster and had higher condition factor than fish fed live zooplankton. Sex differentiation in pikeperch was visible at different stages of ontogenesis, but was related to the fish growth rate. The gonads offish that were 3.43-5.69 cm TL revealed undifferentiated characteristics. Clear indication of oogenesis in females was observed in pikeperch at 7.9 cm TL and 3.47 g, whereas evident spermatogenesis was not observed till the end of the experiment.