Key nutritional requirements for juvenile hybrid striped bass

Aquaculture is the leading growth industry in United States agriculture and future growth is expected. Hybrid striped bass are a relative newcomer to aquaculture. Production of hybrid striped bass has been steadily increasing throughout the United States in recent years. However, little is known regarding their nutritional requirements. Feed costs are typically the first or second largest expenditure in fish production operations; therefore, development of nutritional information is essential so diets may be formulated specifically for hybrid striped bass. Hybrid striped bass readily accept a purified diet containing casein, gelatin and crystalline amino acids and achieve adequate weight gain and feed efficiency when fed this type of diet. Experiments were conducted with purified diets having precise gradations in lysine, total sulfur amino acids, arginine and choline. Weight gain and feed efficiency were used as response parameters to estimate the requirements of each nutrient examined. In addition, liver lipid content was used as a response parameter for the determination of the choline requirement. Requirement estimates were: (g/100 g diet) lysine, 1.4; total sulfur amino acids, 0.73; arginine, 1.55 and choline, 0.05. Continued research is necessary so diets may be formulated specifically for this hybrid