Evaluation of Different Commercial Feeds for Culture of Juvenile Sobaity (Sparidentex Hasta Valenciennes) in Kuwait

A 6-month long growth trial was conducted to evaluate three commercial feeds: Skretting (Turkey), Biomar (Greece), and Arasco (Saudi Arabia) in juvenile sobaity, Sparidentex hasta. For confidentiality, these feeds were randomly given code names diets 1, 2 and 3 and trash fish was used as diet 4 (control). Protein in commercial diets ranged between 47.17 and 48.80% while trash fish had 57.40% protein (% dry basis). Sobaity juveniles (51.39±0.63 g) were stocked at the rate of 50fish/tank, each treatment with three replicates. Fish were fed twice daily at satiation level. The results showed that diet 2 (48.80% protein) resulted in significantly (P<0.05) better weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, apparent net protein utilization and energy retention compared to other diets. There were no significant (P>0.05) differences between the weight gain and SGR values of fish fed diet 1 (48.50% protein) and trash fish (57.40% protein) while diet 3 resulted in the lowest weight gain and SGR. The muscle fatty acid composition reflected the dietary fatty acids particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acids (DHA) and n-3/n-6 ratios which were significantly higher in fish fed diet 2. The results showed that diet 2 (48.80% protein) may be recommended for culture of sobaity in Kuwait.