GROWTH OF JUVENILE CHILEAN FLOUNDER (PARALICHTHYS ADSPERSUS, STEINDACHNER,1867) IN TANK CULTURE

Abstract

Three different size groups of Chilean flounder Paralichthys adspersus were cultured in tanks to determine basic parameters for their mass culture and to determinefif there was differential growth among three different size classes. Observations were carried out over 19 month period, using a total of about 1,378 fish initially separated into large (ca. 6.28 cm), médium ( ca. 4.41 cm) and small (ca. 3.31 cm) sizes. Fish were maintained at about 0.2 kg/m2 in 1 m2 semicircular seawater tanks and given pelletized feed.
Monthly determinations included lengths and weights, condition factor, length/weight relation, and growth equation. It was found that growth in length and weight of all three groups tended to decline with age, and that no significant differences could be detected between the groups. The length/weight relations tended toward allometry, and the von Bertalanffy growth parameters were L~ = 54.4 cm, k = 0.41 and to = 0.3638 years. According to these data, commercial size of this species should be achieved inl.5 to 2 years, and 1 kg weight in 3,5 years. Valúes obtained were in agreement with literature valúes for other commercially valuable species. It is concluded that no significant differences in growth could be detected between the groups and the factibility of this culture for commercial purposes.