Intake and digestion of food by fish larvae and juveniles: A strategy planned over twenty-four hours

Abstract

When is the best time to feed fish? This is an interesting question that does not have an easy answer. Nevertheless, feeding protocol is a relevant issue to consider in rearing fish larvae and the subsequent grow- out of juveniles because it may affect fish growth, survival and robustness, and production costs. There are many different possibilities to feed fish stocked in a production unit, i.e. one or several meals a day, in the morning, in the afternoon, during the day, during the night, continuously, self-feeding, and more. The answer to the question about the best time to feed fish may differ among species and between larvae and juvenile stages. Each species has a defined feeding behavior as a consequence of evolution and adaptation to a particular environment.