Dietary calcium requirement in fishes

The dietary requirement of calcium (Ca) has been well established in terrestrial animals. However, investigations for dietary Ca requirement in fish are complicated and reports limited as fish can use waterborne Ca in addition to dietary Ca. Ca absorption in fishes from environmental water is species specific and depends on concentration of Ca in rearing environment and availability of dietary Ca. Ca and phosphorus are generally combined together in fish body therefore maintaining a dietary calcium: phosphorus ratio is important. Ca exists in a complex form in fish meal, which is not available to fishes; hence, although fish meal contains an appreciable amount of calcium, dietary Ca supplementation in fish meal-based diets for some species is necessary. This review article summarizes and discusses pertinent information on absorption of Ca from water, essentiality of dietary Ca, bioavailability of Ca from different sources, optimum calcium:phosphorus ratio and dietary Ca requirement in fishes.