Effects of Starvation and Re-Feeding on Growth Performance, Feed Utilization and Body Composition of Tinfoil Barb (Barbonymus schwanenfeldii)

Abstract

4 Abstract: The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of short-term starvation and re-feeding on growth performance, feed utilization and body composition of Tinfoil Barb (Barbonymus schwanenfeldii). Groups of 20 fish, each in triplicate, were exposed to four different feeding regimes for a period of 64 days; Control (C): fed twice daily; Treatment 1 (T1): two days starvation followed by six days re-feeding; Treatment 2 (T2): four days starvation followed by 12 days re-feeding and Treatment 3 (T3): eight days starvation followed by 24 days re-feeding. Biometric analysis was carried out after every 16 days. At the end of the experiment final weight, SGR (specific growth rate), CF (condition factor) and WG (weight gain) were determined in control and treated groups. The highest final weight (5.30±0.52) and specific growth rate (1.91±0.17 %) were observed in T2. Daily feed intake and total feed intake was significantly different between the deprived and the control fish (P<0.05). The lowest values of FCR (2.19±0.40) and the highest values of FCE (48.37±7.52 %) and PER (1.17±0.18 %) were observed in the T2. Total body protein, fat, moisture, ash and energy contents varied between T3 fish and the other treatments (P<0.05). This study showed complete compensation in growth and feeding performance of Tinfoil barb suggesting that this feeding schedule involving starvation-re-feeding cycles might be a promising feed management option for the culture of this species.