Effect of ration size and feeding frequency on the growth and food conversion of juvenile Penaeus merguiensis de Man

When juvenile Penaeus merguiensis were fed four times daily they increased in weight more rapidly and utilized their food more efficiently than when fed once per day. The maximum ration for prawns given a commercial dry pellet was approximately 12.0% of the wet body weight per day and changed very little as the prawns grew from 0.5 to 1.3 g in indoor culture. Food conversion efficiency declined with increasing weight and ration size but the relative loss in efficiency was least when rations were maintained near to the maximum. Evidence is presented for the existence of a negative K-line relationship in P. merguiensis.