Feeding behaviour and growth of lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus L.) fed with feed blocks

Feeding behaviour and growth of lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus L.) fed with feed blocks

The aim of this project was to investigate if lumpfish can be fed using specially designed feed blocks instead of regular fish feed pellets. Two studies were performed. In Part I different designs of feed blocks were introduced and fish observed with underwater cameras to record feeding behaviour. R...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Aquaculture research Vol. 49; no. 5; pp. 2006 - 2012
Main Authors: Imsland, Albert K, Reynolds, Patrick, Hangstad, Thor A, Jónsdóttir, Ólöf D B, Noble, Tom, Wilson, Mark, Mackie, James A, Elvegård, Tor A, Urskog, Tonje C, Mikalsen, Bjørn
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Oxford Hindawi Limited 01-05-2018
Subjects:
Acclimation
Acclimatization
Cages
Cameras
Condition factor
Cyclopterus lumpus
Extrusion rate
feed blocks
Feeding
Feeding behavior
Feeding habits
Feeds
Fish
Fish feeds
Freshwater fishes
Grooves
growth
lumpfish
Pelleted feeds
Salmon
Tanks
Underwater cameras
Weight
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Summary:The aim of this project was to investigate if lumpfish can be fed using specially designed feed blocks instead of regular fish feed pellets. Two studies were performed. In Part I different designs of feed blocks were introduced and fish observed with underwater cameras to record feeding behaviour. Results indicate that lumpfish require feed blocks with grooves in order to graze from them and that the acclimation period is relatively short (2–4 hr) before the fish will use them as a feed source. In the second part of the project two duplicate groups of lumpfish with an initial mean (±SD) weight of 125.4 ± 45.7 g were individually weighed and randomly distributed into six 3.5 m3 circular flow‐through tanks with 45 fish in each tank. Fish in three tanks were fed using feed blocks with grooves and fish in three tanks were fed using a regular commercially available lumpfish extruded feed. Both groups received a daily feeding rate of 2% body/weight. From day 14 onwards, fish fed with marine pelleted feed had a significantly higher mean weight compared to fish fed with feed blocks. Although not significant, the condition factor was higher in the feed block group during the study period. Results from this study show that lumpfish will readily graze from feed blocks if they are presented in a way that allows them to do. In addition, the acclimation period required before the fish will utilize them appears to be short thus potentially allowing for their use in commercial salmon cages.
ISSN:1355-557X
1365-2109
DOI:10.1111/are.13657