Food Conversion and Growth Rates for Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass in Laboratory Aquaria

A laboratory and feeding experiment measuring the food conversion and growth rates of five largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) ranging in length from 117 to 312 millimeters (4.6 to 12.3 inches) and sixteen smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) ranging in length from 83 to 202 millimeters (3.3 to 7.9 inches) gave average food conversion values of 4.5 for the smallmouth bass, and 3.8 for the largemouth bass when an excess of small, live fish were fed, and average aquarium temperature was 70.3 degrees F. Individual bass consumed from 2.5 to 13.3 percent of their initial body weight daily, with highest consumption usually by the smaller bass. Average daily increase in weight in proportion to initial weight varied considerably, but was also greatest for the smaller fish.