Maximum daily consumption and specific daily metabolic demand of juvenile flathead catfish (pylodictis olivaris)

Abstract

Maximum daily consumption and specific daily metabolic demand were determined for juvenile flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) in the laboratory over a temperature range of 3–32 °C. Maximum daily consumption increased with increasing water temperature, was significantly higher at 19 °C than at colder temperatures, and remained elevated up to 32 °C. Fish rarely ate below 15 °C, most stopped feeding at 11 °C, and no fish consumed anything at 7 °C or below. Specific daily metabolic demand showed a gradual increase with increasing temperature. The quantification of consumption and metabolic demand for juvenile flathead catfish was consistent with descriptions classifying the species as adapted to warmwater conditions. © 2008, Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.