Effect of feeding strategies on production characteristics and body composition of Florida pompano reared in marine recirculating systems

The effect of feeding strategies on production characteristics and body composition of Florida pompano Trachinotus carolinus reared using marine recirculating systems was evaluated in three growth trials (water temperature, 27-29 degrees C; salinity, 23-28 parts per thousand). A commercial diet (53% protein, 13% lipid) was fed in each trial. In trial 1, mean final weight of juveniles fed 5% of body weight per day (bw/d) in two, three, or six feedings for 38 d was significantly greater than that of Florida pompano fed once daily. In trial 2, Florida pompano that were fed twice daily to apparent satiation (AS) were significantly larger after 54 d than fish fed a fixed ration of 5% bw/d, regardless of initial stocking density (1.3 or 2.6 kg/m(3)). In trial 3, mean final weight of Florida pompano fed to AS four times daily for 133 d was significantly greater than that of fish fed to AS twice daily. Feeding rate and frequency did not affect feed conversion efficiency or body composition and had minimal effects on specific growth rate. Market-size pompano had dressed carcass yields greater than 70% and fillet yields greater than 45%. Juvenile pompano raised in recirculating systems in this study grew from an initial weight of 17 g to weights in excess of 450 g (market size) in 4-5 months and to weights in excess of 700 g in 8-9 months.