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Food assimilation and filtering rate of bighead carp kept in cages

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Abstract

Bighead carp, Aristichthys nobilis Rich., dry weight food assimilation rates ranged from 37 to 49% (average 43%). The filtration rate ranged from 185 to 256 ml h−1 g−1 and was higher in larger fish. Bighead carp filtered Chlorella vulgaris (6 ± 0.4 µ diam) inefficiently (0.1 %), but the efficiency increased to 13 % for the larger Scenedesmus sp. (12 ± 1.7 µ diam). Fish kept in cages were forced to filter-feed, whereas fish kept free in the same pond were opportunistic plankton and bottom feeders. Free fish grew faster.

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Opuszynski, K., Shireman, J.V. & Cichra, C.E. Food assimilation and filtering rate of bighead carp kept in cages. Hydrobiologia 220, 49–56 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00017491

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