Effect of Water Temperature on Growth and Body Composition of Juvenile Mandarin Fish Siniperca scherzeri

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different water temperatures on growth, survival, biochemical composition, and blood physiological parameters of juvenile mandarin fish Siniperca scherzeri. Feed-trained juvenile fish were subjected to four water temperatures (20, 23, 26 and 29℃) with two replicate groups. The fish were fed to apparent satiation twice daily using a formulated diet containing 55% crude protein and 6% crude lipid. After the 8-week feeding trial, survival was >96% in all groups. Weight gain and feed efficiency of fish reared at 26 and 29℃ were higher than those reared at 20℃. The protein efficiency ratio, daily feed intake, and whole body proximate composition were not affected by water temperature. These results indicate that a suitable water temperature range for optimal growth and feed efficiency of juvenile mandarin fish is 26-29℃ under these experimental conditions.