ARS | Publication request: NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS OF EUROPEAN SEA BASS (DICENTRARCHUS LABRAX) AND GILT-HEAD SEA BREAM (SPARUS AURATA)

Submitted to: United States Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: December 16, 2003
Publication Date: December 22, 2003
Citation: Lim, C.E. 2003. Nutrient requirements of european sea bass (dicentrarchus labrax)and gilt-head sea bream (sparus aurata). United States Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin.

Technical Abstract: This manuscript provide an overview on nutrient requirements of European sea bass and gilthead sea bream. Dietary protein requirements of European sea bass and gilthead sea bream ranged from 42-52% and 45-50, respectively depending on fish size, protein quality, protein to energy ratio and feeding management. Both of these species require the same 10 essential amino acids EAA) as do other fish. Known quantitative EAA requirements of sea bass expressed as percentage of dietary protein are arginine (4.1), lysine (4.8), methionine + cystine (2.6), threonine (4.4) and tryptophan (0.5) and those of sea bream are arginine (< 2.6), lysine (5.0), methionine + cystine (4.0)and tryptophan (0.2). The optimum protein to energy ratio reported are 80-92 mg and 105-117 mg digestible protein/kcal of digestible energy for seabass and sea bream, respectively. Carbohydrates are not dietary essential for fish, including sea bass and sea bream. Optimum dietary lipid levels reported for European sea bass and gilthead sea bream are 12-19% and 15%, respectively. Highly unsaturated fatty acid of the n'3 series, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are dietary essential for these species. A dietary level of about 1.0% of either EPA or DHA meets their requirements. Little information is available on the requirement of sea bass and sea bream for vitamins and minerals. Vitamin C are dietary essential for both species. A vitamin C level of 50 mg/kg diet has been reported for sea bass. Optimum dietary levels of niacin, thiamin and pyridoxine for sea bream are 63-83, 10 and 3-5 mg/kg diet, respectively. The requirement of sea bass for dietary phosphorus is about 0.6%.