Effect of stimulants on feeding response, feeding behavior, and growth of fry of sea bass, lates calcarifer (Bloch, 1790)

Abstract

The influence of four stimulants (glycine, proline, L-lysine, and Bombay duck fishmeal) on the feeding behavior of sea bass try was studied. The substances were added at a level of 1% of the weight of moist pellets made from purified diets. Feeding responses were observed in glass tanks containing one or two fish.The fishmeal had significantly greater stimulating effect on the feeding behavior than the chemical substances. Feeding responses were significantly different when there were two fish in the tank. Inclusion of fishmeal at a 10% level (compared to 1%, 5%, 7.5%) produced the greatest ingestion response (50%). Compared to 7.5%, inclusion at 10% produced a significantly higher weight gain (0.54±0.03 g), FCR (1.79), and PER (1.20). The present investigation revealed that Bombay duck meal is a better natural fish feed stimulant than the tested chemicals.