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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #146058
Title: THERMAL OPTIMA FOR THE CULTURE OF JUVENILE SUMMER FLOUNDER (PARALICHTHYS DENTATUS).

Author
item Gaylord, Thomas
item SCHWARZ, MICHAEL - VIRGINIA TECH
item COOL, RYAN - VIRGINIA TECH
item JAHNCKE, MICHAEL - VIRGINIA TECH
item CRAIG, STEVEN - VIRGINIA TECH

Submitted to: Aquaculture America Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/27/2002
Publication Date: 1/27/2002
Citation: GAYLORD, T.G., SCHWARZ, M.H., COOL, R.W., JAHNCKE, M.L., CRAIG, S.R. THERMAL OPTIMA FOR THE CULTURE OF JUVENILE SUMMER FLOUNDER (PARALICHTHYS DENTATUS).. AQUACULTURE AMERICA CONFERENCE. 2002. p.10.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Summer flounder aquaculture has shown promise over the recent past and a considerable body of knowledge is amassing for this species of flatfish. Even with the amassing data, basic information on environmental parameters ranges to maintain in indoor culture systems is still lacking. Therefore, the current study was undertaken to elucidate a temperature range that may be best suited for juvenile summer flounder production in indoor recirculating aquaculture. A 10-week study was designed to address 19, 24 and 29 0C as potential temperatures for the culture of summer flounder. Fish averaging 9.5 g initial weight were stocked into triplicate 20 L aquaria per treatment after conditioning to their respective temperatures for 1 week. Fish were fed to apparent satiation twice daily a 50% CP fingerling diet and weighed every 2 weeks to assess growth rates. Juvenile summer flounder grew better at 24 and 290C than at 190C with increased individual fish variation within a treatment as temperature increased above 190C. Feed efficiency was greatest at 24 and 290C, but survival decreased at temperatures above 190C. There was no effect of temperature on the hepatosomatic index or interior muscle ratio, but the finray muscle ratio was slightly elevated when flounder were cultured at 290C. The lipid content of the finray muscle and liver also increased at 290C. Therefore, 24 0C appears to be the best culture temperature for summer flounder with respect to growth rates and efficiency, but survival and homogeneity of flounder may be lowered at temperatures above 190C.