Study on feeding rhythm and daily feed intake of Paramisgurnus dabryanus

To determine a scientific feeding strategy for loach (Paramisgurnus dabryanus), we conducted a simulation experiment in laboratory to investigate the day and night feeding rhythm and daily feed intake of the fish with different body mass and sex for 72 h. P.dabryanus showed a typical nocturnal ingestion pattern with two extremely obvious feeding peaks (04:00–05:00 and 20:00–21:00). There was no significant relationship between day and night feeding rhythm and size or sex. For both males and females, small fish had the highest daily feed intake, and the daily feed intake of female decreased significantly with increasing size. At 15 ℃, the ratio of daily feed intake to total body mass of P.dabryanus in groups was 2.2% – 4.8%, and the ratio of daily feed intake to body mass of individual P.dabryanus was 3%. It is concluded that a scientific feeding strategy for P.dabryanus is feeding twice a day with feed of 3% – 5% of body mass at 06:00 – 07:00 and 18:00 – 19:00.