Effects of Different Dietary Carbohydrate/Lipid Ratios on Growth, Feed Utilization and Body Composition of Early Giant Grouper Epinephelus Lanceolatus Juveniles

An 8-week growth trial was undertaken to determine effects of different dietary carbohydrate (CHO)/lipid (L) ratios on growth, feed utilization and body composition of early giant grouper Epinephelus lanceolatus juveniles. Five isoenergetic (4.1 kcal/g) and isonitrogenous (50% CP, dry-matter basis) experimental diets were formulated to contain different crude lipid (CL) levels (22%, 19.8%, 17.6%, 15.4% or 13.2%, dry-matter basis) and together different corn starch levels (0%, 4.95%, 9.9%, 14.85% or 19.8%), thereby forming different dietary CHO/L ratios. Groups of 41 early giant grouper juveniles (average initial weight of 0.397 g/fish) were stocked into small floating cages (L 120 cm × W 70 cm × H 50 cm). Triplicate groups of fish were fed each dietary treatment three times daily to apparent satiation.