Experiências de alimentação com tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum), pacu (Mylossoma sp), jaraqui (Semaprochilodus theraponura) e matrinchã (Brycon melanopterus)

Feeding trials with Colossoma macropomum, Mylossoma spec. Semaprochilodus theraponura and Brycon melanopterus have been concluded at the Institute Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia (INPA) since February 1977. Among five different pellet test diets (30% crude protein) containing 100%, 75%. 50%, 25% or 4,5% protein of vegetal origen. those containing 100% or 75% plant-protein (none or 75% animal protein) resulted in better growth rates when fed to alevins than those diets containing higher concentrations of animal protein (fishmeal). The conversion fators were 2,3, 3,2 and 3,9 respectively. Experiments with Brycon melanopterus using test diets of 31,6%. 35,6% and 41,6% crude protein. 50% of which was of fish meal origin, showed highly promising results with the 35% protein diet. In three experiments the conversion factors were 2.7, 1.4 and 1.5 respectively. Highest weight gain (3.4 g/fish/day) was observed when fish grew from 237 g to 406 g in a 50 days trial. From these preliminary results it was concluded that Brycon melanopterus and Colossoma macropomum show good potencial for intensive fish culture