Title: Effects of Different Numbers of Feeding Days and Feeding Rate on Growth of Growing-out Flounder Paralichthys olivaceus
Abstract: This study evaluated the effects of the number of feeding days and feeding rate on the growth of growing-out flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. Three replicated groups of fish (<TEX>$141{\pm}1.9g$</TEX>) were hand-fed a commercial feed under different feeding regimes for 9 weeks. Fish in group 6F-1S were fed to satiation twice daily for 6 consecutive days and starved for 1 day. Fish in groups 4F-1S and 3F-1S were fed to satiation twice daily for 4 and 3 days, respectively, and starved for 1 day. Fish in group 6F-90% were fed a diet of 90% of 6F-1S twice daily for 6 consecutive days and starved for 1 day. The weight gain, feed efficiency and daily feed intake of the fish groups in 4F-1S and 3F-1S were not significantly different from those of group 6F-1S. The weight gain and feed efficiency of fish in group 6F-90% were not significantly different from those of group 6F-1S. The results of this study suggest that the growth of growing-out flounder fed to satiation twice daily for 4 or 3 days after starving 1 day was similar to that of fish fed to satiation for 6 days, and that the proper feeding rate for growth could be lowered to 90% of satiation without growth suppression.