FEEDING-BEHAVIOR AND EFFECT OF FEEDING REGIME ON GROWTH OF ATLANTIC SALMON, SALMO-SALAR

Feeding rates (food intake per hour) during night and day, feeding modes under different light conditions and the effects of the length of the daily feeding period on growth have been studied in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar. In autumn (12L:12D), winter (4L:20D) and spring (14L:10D), feeding rates were 3.1 to 7.5 times higher during daylight hours than at night. All food was taken in the water column during light conditions, but juvenile salmon did take food lying on the tank bottom during the hours of darkness. Different feeding regimes (food offered 3 h per day, during the light period of the day only, and continuously) appeared to have no effect on growth and parr-smolt transformation.