Effects of dietary carnitine and lipid on growth and body composition of hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysops × M. saxatilis )

• Published in: Fish physiology and biochemistry 2000-05, Vol.22 (4), p.297-302
• Main Authors: Gaylord, Tg, Gatlin, Dm
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquaculture; Aquariums; Brackish water; Diet; Fish; Marine; Morone chrysops; Morone saxatilis
• ISSN: 0920-1742; 1573-5168
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1007843223107

A study was undertaken to investigate the effects of graded dietary levels and different types of carnitine on hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysops × M. saxatilis %) fed different levels of lipid. An incomplete factorial design was utilized in which diets containing lipid at either 5 or 10% were supplemented with l-carnitine at 0, 500, or 1000 mg kg^sup -1^ diet, dl-carnitine at 1000 mg kg^sup -1^ diet, or carnitine chloride to provide 1000 mg carnitine kg^sup -1^ diet. Juvenile hybrid striped bass (3.3 g fish^sup -1^) were stocked into individual 38-l aquaria connected as a brackish water (6[per thousand]), recirculating system and fed each diet in triplicate for 9 weeks. Supplementation of the diet with 1000 mg carnitine kg^sup -1^ increased muscle carnitine from 35.5 to 47.7 μg g^sup -1^ tissue. Carnitine supplementation did not result in increased weight gain regardless of carnitine level or type; however, weight gain showed a significant (p