CARBOHYDRATE UTILIZATION VERSUS BODY SIZE IN TILAPIA OREOCHROMIS-NILOTICUS X OREOCHROMIS-AUREUS

1. Two carbohydrate diets (glucose, starch) were each fed to two sizes of tilapia for 8 weeks. 2. Large fish gained more body weight than small fish when fed the glucose diet, whereas similar weight gain, feed conversion ratio, body protein deposition and body energy deposition were measured in large and small fish when fed the starch diet. 3. The body lipid content was higher in large fish than that in small fish irrespective of the carbohydrate sources, while small fish fed the starch diet had more body lipid than those fed the glucose diet. 4. Plasma glucose level of tilapia fed the glucose diet peaked at 2 and 4 hr after the meal in small and large fish, respectively. When the starch diet was fed, no peak was observed in plasma glucose.