Survey of compensatory growth of Tinfoil Barb (Barbonymus schwanenfeldii) following periods of starvation and refeeding

To investigate the compensatory growth of tinfoil barb (Barbonymus schwanenfeldii) a 7 week study was performed. Tinfoil Barb with an average weight of 10. 7±0. 1g were starved for 0 (control)، 1 (T1) or 2 (T2) weeks and then re-fed to satiation for 5 weeks. At the end of the experiment، fish deprived for 1 week had similar body weight to the control indicating that complete compensatory growth occurred. However، fish deprived for 2 week had significantly lower body weight and specific growth rate than the control. Daily feed intake was significantly higher in fish deprived for 1 week than that in the control whereas fish deprived for 2 week had significantly lower daily feed intake than the controls. No significant differences were found in feed conversion ratio and condition factor between the deprived and control fish at the end of the experiment. Our results indicate that compensatory growth occurred in tinfoil barb and the magnitude and duration of compensatory growth depended on the length of food deprivation.