Feeding,growth, and blood chemistry of the tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) held under self-feeding and time-restricted automatic feeding conditions

This work evaluated the effects of food frequencies and self-feeding on the behavior, performance, and blood biochemistry of Colossoma macropomum. Juveniles weighing 3.63?±?0.05 g were distributed in 27 aquariums (40 L), with six fish per aquarium, to evaluate nine treatments in three replications in a 12L:12D photoperiod. The treatments were 24-h self-feeding (SF); daytime self-feeding at will (SFD); nighttime self-feeding at will (SFN); and feeding at fixed frequencies of two (2D), four (4D), and six times (6D) daytime and twice (2 N), four (4 N), and six times (6 N) nightly. The treatments were offered in automatic feeders, with fixed frequencies programmed. Extruded commercial feed, with 46% protein, was used. The experimental period was 40 days. In the SF treatment, the animals exhibited 95.7% nocturnal and 4.3% diurnal feeding activity (p?p?p?p??1 (p?Colossoma macropomum has nocturnal food preferences, however, with remarkable plasticity. Juveniles of this species fed four times during the day or night show good performance. Dietary patterns influenced the blood metabolic indicators of this species and the periods studied.