Survival and growth of elvers (Anguilla anguilla L.) reared on an expanded granulated diet

The suitability of a dry commercial expanded diet for the early rearing of newly-caught glass eels without weaning was investigated.

During a 104-day period, suitable feed particle sizes were determined for various sizes of fish, and growth and survival monitored. All mortalities, which totalled 28% of the initial population, occurred during the early stages of the experiment, suggesting that they were fish which either did not accept, or were unable to utilise, the diet given. No cannibalism was seen at any time. Overall growth rate and food conversion averaged 2.03% of bodyweight/day and 2.1 respectively. Selected, faster growing fish (35% of the stock) showed an average growth rate of 3.41%/day and a food conversion of 1.47.

The differences between the results obtained with the diet used and previously published data are discussed.