Compensatory growth of Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer) following short term starvation periods and refeeding: effects on growth and feeding performances, body composition and blood biochemical parameters

In present study the effects of short-term starvation and refeeding on growth and feeding performances, body composition and blood biochemical parameters of Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer) were studied. After 2 weeks adaptation to experimental condition, 6000 fish with an average initial weight of 250±6.0 g in two treatments and one control group were randomly distributed in nine farmed cages. Control treatment fed two times daily to apparent satiation. The first treatment (T1) 3 day starvation & 12 days refeeding and the second treatment (T2) 6 day starvation & 24 days refeeding experienced. The obtained results showed that the value of the weight gain in the control and T2 groups were significantly lower than T1 group, at the end of the experiment (P<0.05). Food conversion ratio and Food conversion efficiency values showed lower and higher in T1 group, while higher and lower their values were observed in the control group (P<0.05). However, short terms starvation and refeeding periods did not seem to exert a profound influence on specific growth rate (P>0.05). Short-term starvation and refeeding did not affect carcass ash and moisture (P>0.05). However, the fat value was significantly (P˂0.05) higher in the control group and protein value was significantly (P˂0.05) lower in the T2 group. There were no significant differences in blood biochemical parameters among different treatments (P>0.05). However, triglycerides and albumin values was higher in T2 and T3 fish than that in the T1 fish, and there was a tendency in glucose and total protein values to decrease with longer starvation periods. The results regarding growth and feeding performances, survival and biochemical parameters indicated that the best compensatory strategy occurred in the deprived fish with 3 days and refed with 12 days and that this species can be subjected to short term starvation without any significant effects on growth and feeding performance.