Dietary magnesium did not affect calcium and phosphorus content in juvenile grouper, Epinephelus coioides

Most of magnesium (Mg) in fish is located in the bone. Dietary calcium (Ca) and phosphorous (P) has been reported to affect scales and vertebrae Mg dramatically in juvenile grouper, but the effect of dietary Mg on tissue Ca and P is unknown. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary Mg supplement on growth, feed efficiency, morphometry, and the ash and Ca, P, sodium (Na) content in scales and vertebrae of juvenile grouper. Seven experimental diets were formulated to contain graded levels of Mg by supplementing the basal diet with 0, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000 and 2000 mg kg-1 Mg in the form of Mg sulphate (MgSO(4)center dot 7H(2)O). Juvenile grouper with an initial body weight of 11.8 +/- 0.1 g were fed to apparent satiation twice per day for 10 weeks. Dietary Mg supplement had no significant effect on growth, feed efficiency, and Mg concentration in scales and vertebrae of grouper, which indicates the Mg requirement of grouper was met in fish fed the basal diet. Mg supplements had significant effect on morphometry index such as body length, condition factor, viscera somatic index and mesenteric fat index. Extra dietary Mg supplement to the basal diet had no negative effect on ash, Ca and P concentrations in scales and vertebrae.