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Growth and feed utilization in Cobia early juveniles is affected by water temperature and dietary methionine By Luís Conceiçãoa*, Minh Van Nguyenb, Manuel Yúferac, Minh Hoang Leb, Sofia Engrolad, Marit Espee, Ann-Elise Jordal and Ivar Rønnestadf. a
Sparos Lda, Olhão, Portugal; bInstitute of Aquaculture, Nha Trang University, Vietnam; cInstituto de Ciencias Marinas de Andalucía (ICMAN-CSIC), Puerto Real, Spain; d Centre of Marine Sciences of Algarve (CCMAR), Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal; eInstitute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway; fDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Introduction Cobia (Rachycentron canadum), is a fast-growing warm waters fish with a broad distribution in tropical and subtropical areas of the Pacific, Indic and Atlantic oceans. This highvalued species has been profiled for marine aquaculture in many countries and may reach up to 6 kg in one year. The annual world production of cobia has reached over 40.000 tons in recent years (FAO, 2018), and is produced mainly in South-East Asia, but also in the Gulf of Mexico. It is one of the main marine fish farmed in Vietnam (Nhu et al., 2011). In Southern Vietnam and other regions where the species is farmed, water temperature in cages and tanks normally is from
27 - 30°C, but may reach up to 36°C during the warmer season. In hatcheries water temperature may be partially controlled depending on the technical solutions in the facility. Successful production of high quality cobia from early juvenile stage to when the fish is stocked into cages depends on availability of good quality and cost-effective feeds that meet the nutritional requirements of this fast growing fish. Fast growing fish have typically high protein needs, and methionine tends to be the first limiting amino acid in protein synthesis. Since protein, and methionine in particular is costly, its dietary levels need to be optimized. Moreover, feed intake,
Feeding Cobia juveniles at Nha Trang University
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