REQUIREMENT OF YELLOW CROAKER NIBEA-ALBIFLORA FOR DIETARY PHOSPHORUS

Fingerling yellow croaker Nibea albiflora, with initial mean weight of 20 g were fed semipurified test diets containing different levels of phosphorus (0.3-0.9%) for 14 weeks. Deficiency of phosphorus reduced g rowth and feed efficiency. In vertebrae an increase of ash and a decre ase of lipid was observed with increasing dietary phosphorus. Hematocr it, hemoglobin and serum total protein remain to be unaffected. Howeve r, serum triglyceride and total cholesterol were maximum at the level of 0.65% dietary phosphorus. Results of growth and mineral contents of serum, bone and liver suggest that the minimum requirement for dietar y phosphorus is approximately 0.65%.