Abstract

GRACIA LOPEZ, Vicente  and  CASTELLO-ORVAY, Francesc. Preliminary data on the culture of juveniles of the dusky grouper, Epinephelus marginatus (Lowe, 1834). Hidrobiológica [online]. 2003, vol.13, n.4, pp.321-327. ISSN 0188-8897.

This study shows preliminary data about the culture of juvenile dusky grouper, Epinephelus marginatus. Two experiments were carried out to determine the effects of three salinity levels (35, 27 and 20 psu) and two different temperatures (20 and 26 ºC) on the growth, survival, and feeding parameters of fish raised in concrete tanks. Also, growth, feeding efficiency and biometry was studied for seven grams juveniles in a 15 month trials. Results indicated that fish maintained at a salinity of 35 psu grew faster than fish at 20 and 27 psu, and significant differences in weight gain, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, specific growth rate, and survival were obtained between these treatments. Best growth and better feeding parameters were obtained for fish at high temperature. Significant differences in feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and specific growth rate were obtained between temperature treatments. At the end of the experimental procedure the final mean weight was 458 g in 15 months. Mean weight gain was 451 g and the feed conversion ratio was 1.23. This study also demonstrated a faster growth in culture conditions than in the wild. The results obtained were courageous and could be the basis of further studies for the culture of this species.

Keywords : Grouper; temperature; salinity; growth; Epinephelus marginatus.

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