FEEDING OF THE EUROPEAN EEL ANGUILLA-ANGUILLA .1. INFLUENCE OF DIETARY CARBOHYDRATE LEVEL

1. Four isoenergetic diets containing different levels of carbohydrate (up to a maximum of 40% in dry matter) and protein (inversely related with carbohydrate, with a minimum of 25% in dry matter) were tested i n replicate groups of European eels (Anguilla anguilla), with an initi al weight of 30-40 g. 2. The diet containing the highest carbohydrate level (therefore, the lowest in protein) provided the best performance and exhibited the most favourable utilization of the dietary protein. 3. It is suggested that dietary carbohydrate could play a more import ant role as an energy yielding nutrient in the commercial diets for ee ls compared with the diets of other cultured fish species.