Utilization of glucose and starch by the grouper Epinephelus malabaricus at 23°C

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate carbohydrate utilization by the grouper Epinephelus malabaricus reared at 23°C. Two isoenergetic semipurified diets were prepared with two carbohydrate sources (glucose and starch). Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of grouper in a recirculating rearing system for 8 weeks. Water temperature was held constant by a thermal controller at 23±1°C. Weight gain, feed efficiency (FE) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) of fish fed the starch diet were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those of fish fed the glucose diet. Body lipid content of the starch-fed group of fish was higher than that of glucose-fed group of fish. Hepatic hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities were higher in fish fed the starch diet than fish fed the glucose diet. Fish fed the glucose diet had higher hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase activity than fish fed the starch diet. These results suggest that starch is better utilized by grouper than glucose when the water temperature is 23°C.