Feeding and growth efficiency indices of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) during different deprivation and re-feeding periods

This study aimed to have more insight into the effects of different feed deprivation periods on the growth and feed utilization indices of fish. The study lasted for eight weeks. Four treatments with three replicates including a control group without feed deprivation and treatment 1, 2 and 3 with 1, 2 and 3 week(s) of feed deprivation, respectively, were set up. Fish were fed ad lib for five weeks from week four up to the end of week eight, twice daily. The initial weight was (44.01g ±0.19 c S.E.M). At the end of the deprivation period (day 21 of experiment) starved fish including treatments 1 (46.90g ±2.74), 2 (46.04g ±1.21) and 3 (41.04g ±0.22) had significantly lower weights (P0.05). Different body compartments (crude protein, fat and energy) were not significantly differed among the treatments at the end of the starvation period (P>0.05). Results indicated that the fish could tolerate the starvation and could finally compensate for the final body weight