Calcium requirement of tiger puffer fed a semi-purified diet

Juvenile tiger puffer (Takifugu rubripes) were fed semi-purified diets with graded levels (0-0.40%) of calcium (Ca) supplements for 8 weeks at a tempe rature of 23.0-25.5 degrees C. At the end of the feeding experiment, averag e final body weight increased with increasing dietary Ca levels. A diet wit hout Ca supplement resulted in poor average final body weight and 0.05% die tary Ca supplement could not significantly improve the growth. However, sup plemental Ca levels of 0.10-0.40% significantly increased growth. Dietary C a supplements of 0.10% or more also improved the feed efficiency in tiger p uffer. Ca and phosphorus contents of the bone were independent of dietary C a supplements. However, 0.40% Ca in the diet decreased the zinc and mangane se contents of bone. Results indicated that supplemental Ca levels of 0.10- 0.20% in a semi-purified diet were required to maintain normal growth, feed utilization and bone mineralization of tiger puffer.