Effects of feeding frequency on growth performance, survival and body composition of koi carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Koi (Linnaeus, 1758)) fingerlings

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the optimal feeding frequency for koi carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Koi). 540 juvenile koi (2.24 ± 0.11 g) were fed with six different feeding frequencies i.e., one, two, three, four, five, and six times a day for 75 days, and the growth performance, survival, and body composition were evaluated. The results showed a significant effect of different feeding frequencies on all measured parameters. The maximum and minimum weight gain, length, and SGR were observed in treatments 5 and 1, respectively (p<0.05). The minimum and maximum FCR were observed in treatments 5 and 1, respectively (p<0.05). Mortality was observed only in treatments 1 and 2. The highest and lowest amount of carcass protein was belonged to treatments 5 and 1, respectively. By increasing the daily feeding frequency, RLG decreased. However, this decline was not statistically significant. According to the results, increasing feeding frequency up to 5 times a day improved all parameters related to growth performance, nutrition, survival, and carcass composition in koi fingerlings. Therefore, a minimum of 5 times feeding frequency a day could be suggested in koi fingerlings in this weight range.

Keywords

• koi carp
• feeding frequency
• growth
• carcass composition