The pantothenic acid requirement in juvenile spotted rose snapper Lutjanus guttatus (Steindachner, 1869)

An 18-week feeding trial was conducted to estimate the optimum dietary pantothenic acid (PA) requirement for juvenile of Lutjanus guttatus. Seven isoproteic and isocaloric practical diets were formulated containing graded levels of pantothenic acid (PA) 2.57, 31.97, 47.91, 63.79, 76.83, 103.15 and 121.91 mg kg(-1). Triplicate groups of 15 fish, with an initial weight of 10.2 +/- 1.4 g, were cultured in 21 glass-fiber tanks and received each diet at random three times daily to apparent satiety. Results showed that the weight gain of fish fed diet 2.57 mg kg(-1) PA was significantly less than the weight gain of fish fed diets containing greater quantities of PA. However, no significant differences were observed in the weight gain of the fish fed diets containing between 31.97 to 121.91 mg kg(-1) PA. External signs of deficiency in the fish of diet (2.57 mg kg(-1) PA) included caudal fin erosion, desquamation of the skin, hemorrhages in the body and fins, lethargy and 80% mortality rate were recorded. Hematological parameters indicated that there was no clear reduction of hemoglobin with PA in the diets. The dietary PA requirement to attain maximum growth rate, good survival, and the absence of external injuries range between 40.10 and 44.29 mg kg(-1).