Otávio Mesquita de Sousa

Colouring has a great influence on the commercialization of ornamental fish. The aim of this study was to evaluate different concentrations of canthaxanthin in the diet of the blood swordtail Xiphophorus helleri in an effort to obtain a more intense red colour. Six concentrations of canthaxanthin (0, 50, 100, 250, 400 and 600 mg kg(-1) diet) were used. The experiment lasted 60 days. Fish were evaluated for increased red pigmentation through the use of photographs (performed by smartphone) and imaging applications considering the Hunter method and the CMYK and productive performance. No significant differences were observed for productive performance. The use of photographs by means of a smartphone and the use of imaging applications proved to be adequate to assess differences in colour in the species. Swordtail red pigmentation did not show significant increase regardless of canthaxanthin dosages. Varieties of ornamental fish bred for red coloration may have limits for increased colour due to the storage capacity of carotenoids by chromatophores.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the growth performance of common snook (Centropomus undecimalis) subjected to different feeding rates and frequencies using automatic feeders. Two experiments of 60 days each were carried out. In the first one, 20 fishes per tank were distributed in three feeding rates of: 5, 10, and 15% body weight per day. In the second experiment, 20 fishes per tank were distributed in nine tanks, in three feeding frequency: once a day, three times a day, and six times a day. Water parameters were maintained at the recommended level for the species. Final weight, body weight gain, specific growth rate, and feed conversion rate did not differ significantly between the 10 and 15% feeding rates. However, both rates differed from the 5% one. The feeding frequency of six times a day resulted in better values for final weight, final biomass, body weight gain, and specific growth rate. Therefore, common snook fingerlings should be fed at the feeding rate of 10% body weight per day, six times a day, in order to achieve the best growth performance.

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da privação alimentar e a ocorrência de crescimento compensatório sobre o desempenho produtivo de formas jovens do robalo-flecha ( Centropomus undecimalis ). O experimento teve duração de 60 dias, em que os peixes - 35 indivíduos por tanque - foram divididos nos três seguintes grupos de tratamentos: com alimentação todos os dias (controle); com alimentação cinco dias por semana, seguidos de dois dias de jejum; e com alimentação quatro dias por semana, seguidos de três dias de jejum. Os tratamentos de privação alimentar proporcionaram indicadores de desempenho significativamente inferiores aos do controle. Formas jovens da espécie não devem ser submetidas a períodos de privação alimentar, pelos prejuízos que esta prática acarreta ao desempenho produtivo. Termos para indexação: Centropomus undecimalis; hiperfagia; manejo alimentar; maricultura.