Effects of Feeding Frequency on the Post-Feeding Oxygen Consumption and Ammonia Excretion of the Juvenile Snakehead

The effects of feeding frequency on the specific dynamic action of the juvenile snakehead were examined. The fish were fed at four different frequencies with the same total meal intakes (4% body mass), and the postprandial oxygen consumption rate and ammonia excretion rate were determined for two days. The durations of oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion significantly increased with increasing feeding frequency. The specific dynamic action coefficient did not significantly change as the feeding frequency increased. The net energy gain of the fish fed 4 meals daily was lower than the fish fed at the other frequencies. No significant change was found for the post feeding ammonia quotient as the feeding frequency increased. The total post feeding ammonia excretion and its ratio to the total nitrogen intake of the fish fed 4 meals daily were higher than those of the fish fed at any other frequency. These results suggest that frequent feedings result in a prolonged digestion process and reduce net energy gain and dietary protein efficiency, and very frequent feedings with smaller meals may be less beneficial for food energy utilization in the sedentary ambush foraging snakehead fish.