Abstract
- The in£uence of four formulated practical diets, with di¡erent protein and lipid levels, on the growth and body composition of black sea bass (Centropristis striata L.) pre-adults was evaluated in a pilot-scale marine recirculating system. Four test diets were prepared with a combination of two protein levels (44% and 54%) and two lipid levels (10% and 15%). The diets were as follows: low protein and low lipid (LP:LL; 44:10), low protein and high lipid (LP:HL; 44:15), high protein and low lipid (HP:LL; 54:10) and high protein and high lipid (HP:HL; 54:15). Fish (mean weight 575.5 g) were fed the respective diets for 90 days. For fish fed LP:HL, body weight gain was significantly (Po0.05) higher than fish fed LP:LL. Increasing the protein level from 44% to 54% did not produce a significant e¡ect on weight gain at high lipid level. A significant interactive e¡ect between dietary protein and lipid levels on the growth and feed utilization was observed. Total lipid content in the whole body, muscle and liver was significantly affected by the dietary lipid levels. The results suggested that a combination of 44% dietary protein and 15% lipid was optimal for the growth of black sea bass.