Effect of culture temperature on growth, survival, and biochemical composition of yellow perch Perca flavescens

Juvenile yellow perch Perca flavescens were evaluated under controlled cond itions in tanks for 13 wk to determine the effect of temperature on growth to advanced sizes under intensive culture conditions. Yellow perch weighing 6.6 +/- 1.5 g were stocked into nine 4,755-L tanks at 131 fish/m(3) (625 p erch/tank). There were three replicate tanks per temperature (20, 24, and 2 8 C). Perch were fed to apparent satiation twice daily using a 45% crude pr otein diet with 16% crude fat. After 93 d the perch in the 24 C treatment w ere significantly larger (P < 0.05) than those in the 20 C and 28 C treatme nts, which were not significantly different (P < 0.05) from each other. Yel low perch raised at 28 C had significantly higher (P < 0.05) feed conversio n ratios and significantly lower (P < 0.05) survival and net protein utiliz ation than perch raised at 20 C or 24 C. Whole body moisture was significan tly higher in (P < 0.05) yellow perch raised at 20 C which also had signifi cantly higher levels of arachidonic acid (20:4 n-6) and docosohexaenoic aci d (22:6 n-3). The ratio of palmitic acid (16:0) and palmitoleic acid (16:1 n-6) had a positive correlation (P < 0.05) with culture temperature. These data indicate that 24 C may be an optimum temperature for yellow perch. ht 20 C survival and feed conversion are good but growth rates are reduced. Te mperatures near 28 C appear sufficient to represent chronic stress conditio ns.