Two hundred and fifty six curimbatá (Prochilodus affins) fingerlings averaging initial weight of 2.72 ± 0.11 g, stocked in 32 aquariums (100 L) with water renewal, controlled temperature and individual aeration, were used to determine the dietary crude protein (CP) requirements, according to the digestible energy level (DE). The experiment was carried out in to a 4 x 2 factorial scheme (four CP levels: 18.0, 22.0, 26.0 and 30.0% combined with two DE levels: 2,700 and 3,000 kcal/kg), according to a completely randomized design with four replicates of eight fishes. The fishes were fed ad libitum twice a day, during 78 days. Weight gain, apparent feed intake, apparent feed:gain ratio, specific growth rate, protein efficiency rate, nitrogen retention efficiency, humidity, body fat and protein, nitrogen and fat percentage in weight gain were evaluated. No CP <FONT FACE=Symbol>´</FONT> DE levels interaction was observed for any studied variable, except for the fat percentage in weight gain. Fishes fed diets with 3,000 kcal de DE/kg showed higher levels of dry matter, body fat and fat percentage in weight gain. It was concluded that CP and DE requirements for curimbatá fingerlings are of 26.05% and 2,700 kcal/kg, respectively, that correspond to DE:CP ratio of 10.36 kcal DE/g CP, due to the best results of weight gain and carcass composition.
curimbatá-pioa; energy; energy and protein requirements; fish nutrition
