Short-term starvation at different feeding regimes on appetite responses, feeding utilization and physiological indices, of red hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus × Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings reared in brackish water

A 42 day factorial trial (3x2) was designed to evaluate the effect of short-term starvation with
different feeding frequencies on performance, feed utilization, physiological status and appetite
responses of red hybrid tilapia fingerlings. Eighteen plastic tanks with a capacity of (55 L) were
used to accomplish this work. Fingerlings with an average initial weight of 23 g ± 0.2 (SE) were
randomly stocked at a rate of 8 fingerlings/aquarium. Six groups were designated as the
following: II/ED: fish was fed twice every day; IV/ED: fish fed four times every day; II/EOD: fish
fed twice every other day (alternate-day feeding or one day of feeding followed by another of
fasting); IV/EOD: was fed four times every other day; II/EO3D: fish fed twice every other three
days (three day of feeding followed by another of fasting) and IV/EO3D: fish fed four times every
other three days. Fish were fed on commercial diets 30 % protein (4 % of biomass). Results
showed insignificant differences between fish fed every other day and those fed every day in some
growth indicators. In the same trend, the interaction between feed deprivation and feeding fre
quency cleared that fingerlings of IV/EOD did not significantly differ with those fed every day in
growth indices. Moreover this treatment was the best in feed conversion efficiency and several
physiological indicators.