| Abstract: | The optimal dietary carbohydrate (C) : lipid (L) ratio on growth and carcass composition of juvenile abalone, Haliotis discus, was determined. A total of 1260 juveniles were randomly distributed into 18 containers. Six experimental diets containing different ratios of C to L (49:1, 48:2, 47:3, 45:5, 43:7, and 41:9) were prepared and referred to as the C49:L1, C48:L2, C47:L3, C45:L5, C43:L7, and C41:L9 diets, respectively. Water stability of the experimental diets was measured 12, 24, and 48 h after seawater immersion. Crude protein, L and ash content of the experimental diets decreased with time. Survival of abalone fed the C48:L2 diet was higher than that of abalone fed the C49:L1 and C41:L9 diets. Weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR) of abalone fed the C49:L1, C48:L2, and C47:L3 diets were higher than that of abalone fed the C45:L5, C43:L7, and C41:L9 diets. Crude L content of the soft body of abalone was directly reflected from dietary crude L content. In conclusion, the optimal dietary C : L ratio was estimated to be 48:2 and 47:3 based on survival, weight gain, and SGR of juvenile abalone, respectively. Greater than 3% L content in the diet deteriorated performance of this species of abalone. |
