Studies on the optimum protein content and the ratio of animal to plant protein in the diet of the black sea bream (Sparus macrocephalus)

An experiment on the optimum dietary protein content for the black sea bream using semi-purified diets showed the optimum is 50.19% by weight as inferred from the growth rate and food consumption of the fish. Another experiment on the proper ratio of animal to plant protein in its diet using sandeel as the animal protein source and peanut cake meal as plant protein source showed that the ratio had great effect on its growth and should be 1.00: 0.89–0.96 as judged from the growth rate and food consumption of the fish. Contribution No. 1973 from the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.