Compensatory growth response of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) under cycled starvation and restricted feeding rate

The compensatory growth response of the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) that faced cycling starvation and restricted ration was assessed. Juveniles (10.5g) were stocked into 15 tanks at a density of 25 fish per tank. Five different feeding regimes were tested on triplicate groups of fish: CSatiation: control fed for 60days without deprivation, CRestricted: 25% restricted feeding, S-R: 1day starvation then 4days CRestricted feeding, R-F: 1day CRestricted feeding then 4days CSatiation feeding, and, finally, S-F: 1day starvation then 4days CSatiation feeding. The specific growth rate of fish in the CSatiation (2.5 +/- 0.06%day-1), S-F (2.5 +/- 0.11%day-1) and R-F (2.4 +/- 0.18%day-1) were significantly higher than that of CRestricted (2.2 +/- 0.05%day-1) or S-R (2.0 +/- 0.01%day-1). Fish in S-F group were able to achieve catching up with the CSatiation. There was no significant difference in feed conversion rates but R-F and S-F consumed approximately 34% more feed than CSatiation following the first re-feeding day. Although, the highest lipid content was observed in CSatiation (14.4%), S-R (33.3% dry matter) had the highest water content compared with the CSatiation and CRestricted (37.8% and 36.9% dry matter respectively). In conclusion, it may be concluded that sea bass has rapid response to cycling starvation/re-feeding and that a 25% restricted feeding ratio is insufficient to invoke a compensatory growth response in sea bass.