Effect of number of meals and frequency of feeding on voluntary feed intake of Colossoma macropomum (Cuvier)

Juvenile, 0.87 g Colossoma macropomum (Cuvier) were submitted to different ad libitum feeding regimes. Feeding frequency ranged from one to five meals per day and intervals between meals from 3 h to 24 h. Higher feeding frequencies resulted in higher feed uptake, a higher growth rate and a decreased feed utilization efficiency. Feed consumption was lower at 0700 h than at 1900 h. The amount of feed from different meals persisting in the digestive tract was determined with chromic-oxide-marked feed. This method revealed that with ad libitum feeding, about 21% of the feed remained uneaten. Feed losses did not differ significantly between feeding regimes. Feed accumulated in the digestive tract in the morning and early afternoon. In the late afternoon most feed rests disappeared from the digestive tract and feed consumption increased. It is suggested that feed uptake and growth of C. macropomum can be improved by extending the feeding period after 1900 h.