Abstract:Feeding trials were conducted to investigate the effect of dietary protein and amino acid level on the growth of juvenile sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus at 4.5~4.8 g. The experiments on juvenile sea cucumbers were conducted over 70 days using an artificial feed, mainly composed of fish meal, Sargassum thumbergii and lees (by products from wine and beer production). The content of protein in artificial feed was 14.7%, 17.7%, 19.1% and 21.5% respectively. The results showed that the weight gain and feed digestibility increased with the protein content in the diet. The optimum protein content was 21.5%, resulting in the highest weight gain and feed digestibility. Based on a second growth experiment over a 40 day period, during which five different feed formulas were tested, it was found that the weight gain was maximal when the diet was rich in the following amino acids: lysine, arginine, glycine and methionine. It suggested that lysine, arginine, glycine and methionine are important amino acids for the growth of sea cucumbers.
