Effects of dietary tricalcium phosphate on the growth, feed efficiency andmineralization of bone in young red sea bream

A rearing experiment was conducted for a 12 weeks period to investigate the effects of dietary tricalcium phosphate (TCP) on young red sea bream in as pects of growth, feed utilization and bone mineralization. The fish fed the diet with a low level (0.2%) of Ca supplement from TCP (diet 2) showed gro wth similar to the fish fed 0.2% Ca from Ca-lactate (diet 1). Fish fed the diet with a high level (2.5%) of Ca supplement from TCP (diet 3) showed sig nificantly poor growth than the fish fed diet 1. Feed efficiency and condit ion factor were lower in the fish fed diets 2 and 3 compared to diet 1. TCP in the diets 2 and 3 decreased the Zn content of bone. These results indic ate that inclusion of a high level of TCP to the purified diet decreases th e growth, feed efficiency and Zn content of bone in red sea bream.