The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance parameters and the chemical composition, and the hematologic characteristics of pacu fed at different feeding frequencies. Three thousand two hundred fish, with 65.9±2.36 g initial weight, were distributed in 16 net cages with 5 m³ total volume. During 65 days, four feeding frequencies (treatments) were evaluated as follows: T1, at 12:00 h; T2, at 8:00 and 17:00 h; T3, at 8:00, 12:00, and 17:00 h; and T4, at 8:00, 11:00, 14:00, and 17:00 h. A completely randomized experimental design was used with four replicates. Performance parameters, visceral-somatic fat and hepatosomatic indexes, carcass proximate composition, and hematological and biochemical parameters were analyzed. For weight gain, T3 and T4 frequencies provided better results than T1 and T2. Although protein, cholesterol and erythrocytes have shown differences between treatments, they remained within the default reference range for pacus reared in net cages. The frequency of three daily feeds, resulted in better weight gain, in comparison to the other treatments, without interfering in animal health and in the proximate composition of animal carcass.
Piaractus mesopotamicus; aquaculture; productive performance; hematology; feed handling
