FEEDING FREQUENCY IN PACAMÃ LARVICULTURE

ABSTRACT: The feeding frequencies on pacamã Lophiosilurus alexandri larviculture were evaluated. In the first phase, 10 days of active feeding, larvae with nine days post hatching (13.5 ± 0.7 mm) were stocked at density of 10 larvae L-1 in 5-L tanks each. The experimental treatments were: F2T (feeding 8h00 and 17h00); F2M (feeding 8h00 and 12h30); F3 (feeding 8h00, 12h30 and 17h00); and F4 (feeding 8h00, 11h00, 14h00 and 17h00). During this phase Artemia nauplii were used as food. In the second phase, during 15 days, juveniles were restocked in 20-L tanks at density of 2.2 juveniles L-1, and kept the same feeding frequencies of the first phase. Commercial dry diet containing 40% crude protein was used as food. No effect of feeding frequency on growth and survival, during both phases, was observed. However, survival decreases from the first to the second phase, showing the importance of the type of food. During the L. alexandri larviculture should be recommended twice a day feeding frequency.