TY - JOUR AU - Appelbaum, Samuel AU - Jesuarockiaraj, Antonysiluvai PY - 2009/10/30 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Salt incorporated diets for enhancing growth performance and survival in gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata L. juveniles reared in low saline brackish water JF - Scientia Marina JA - Sci. mar. VL - 73 IS - S1 SE - Articles DO - 10.3989/scimar.2009.73s1213 UR - https://scientiamarina.revistas.csic.es/index.php/scientiamarina/article/view/1124 SP - 213-217 AB - Following previous observations, this study was undertaken to determine the level of salt required in the diet of gilthead sea bream (<i>Sparus aurata</i> L.) juveniles in order to enhance growth performances and survival when rearing in inland brackish water with a salinity of 2.9‰ TDS (Total Dissolved Salts). The juveniles were reared for 10 weeks in twelve rearing tanks, each stocked with 65 fish. Four different test diets were prepared: a control diet without added salt, and three diets with 12%, 14% and 16% added salt. Fish were fed by hand ad libitum three times daily. All diets were accepted equally well. The highest growth rate (p < 0.05) was achieved in fish fed the 12% diet followed by the 14% diet, the control diet, and finally the 16% diet. The 12% diet produced the best specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio. The highest survival was achieved in fish fed the 12% diet (88%) and the lowest in fish fed the 16% diet (80%) and the control diet (80%). This study demonstrates that growth performance and survival in gilthead sea bream reared in water of low salinity can be significantly improved by adding 12% salt to their diet. ER -