Effects of Starvation and Refeeding on Growth and Biochemical Compositions of Esox lucius

The effects of starvation for different time( 14,21,28,35 and 42 d,respectively) and refeeding on growth,body biochemical composition and RNA /DNA ratio of Esox lucius [initial body weight( 196. 77 ± 7. 60 g) ] were investigated. A feeding trial was conducted for 56 days. The water temperature ranged from 22 to 26℃ . The results showed that the compensatory growth occurred in the fish refed after starvation,the body weight of starving 14 d was significantly higher than that of the control( P 0. 05) ,the other groups were no significant differences ( P 0. 05) . After being deprived of food,the content of lipid decreased and moisture increased significantly with the increasing of starvation period ( P 0. 05) ,returned to the level in the control group after refeeding except for the content of lipid. The specific growth rate,feeding rate and conversion efficiency in Esox lucius during recovery growth higher than that of the control ( P 0. 05) ,returned to the level in the control group as the starvation proceeded ( P 0. 05) . The ratio of RNA /DNA in Esox lucius decreased with the increasing of starvation period,returned to the level in the control group after refeeding. It is suggested that over-compensatory growth occurred in group of starving 14 d in the course of recovery growth,but the complete compensatory growth occurred in group of starving 21,28,35 and 42 d. It was due to the higher feeding rate and food conversion efficiency after refeeding.