Effect of Dietary Arginine Levels on Growth of Red Sea Bream Larvae Fed Diets Supplemented with Crystalline Amino Acids

Abstract

In order to study the effect of different dietary arginine levels on the growth of red sea bream larvae, two types of diets were prepared: one group of five zein microbound diets with increasing levels of arginine, and one group of five microcoated diets with the same arginine levels as those in the microbound diets. All diets had a crude protein content (N×6.25) of 60%. Twenty-day-old red sea bream larvae were fed on these diets for 28 days, and at the end of the experiment, the amino acids in the diets and larvae were analyzed. Growth of red sea bream larvae was enhanced by increasing arginine levels to 2.5% of the diet. Further increase in arginine level did not improve the growth response. For practical purposes, at least 2.5% arginine in the diet is recommended for larval feeding of red sea bream. © 1994, The Japanese Society of Fisheries Science. All rights reserved.