Abstract:Aquaculture of abalone was limited in northern China by the lack of fresh food in summer. For a new feeding method, the Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai Ino at shell length of 65mm were treated with periodic starvation, i.e. feeding for 2d, then starving for 1~4d, with continuous feeding treatment as control. Results of growth, feeding, defecation and granulocyte suggested that there was no significant difference in growth when starvation was less than 2d (P＞0.05), while body weight dropped in other groups(more than 3d starvation). Food intake rate increased as starvation lasted, but there was no significant difference between each group (P＞0.05). Fecal production rate and organic matter in feces decreased with prolonged starvation, and it was significantly different during each treatment stage (P＜0.05); Ratio of granulocyte showed no difference in treatments of starvation less than 2d, and significantly higher for group of starvation less than 2d than groups of f2s3 and f2s4 (P＜0.05).
