Food intake and growth of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) held under alternated light/dark cycle (12L : 12D) or exposed to continuous light

A 12-week study was conducted to examine the influence of light regime on food intake and growth in juvenile (ca. 3.5 g) largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Fish were reared in 15-1 aquaria either under an alternated light/dark cycle (12L: 1213; L from 6:00) or under continuous light (24L:OD), and were weighed every 3 weeks. They were fed by hand once a day at 8:00, with fish in each aquarium being provided with 2% of the tank biomass (re-calculated every 3 weeks). After each meal, uneaten pellets were counted and food intake estimated. Fish reared under continuous light grew faster than those under day-night alternation, primarily because feed consumption of fish was greater under 24L:OD than under day-night alternation. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.