Impact of water temperature on growth in cobia, Rachycentron canadum, cultured in cages

Abstract

Temperature is a major factor affecting fish growth in natural environments. The relationship between water temperature and growth rate in cobia, Rachycentron canadum, was examined at a fish farm in Penghu, Taiwan. Six cages, stocked with 300 fish each, were used in the year-long experiment. Growth rate was monitored by sampling 30 fish from each cage every month. Water quality was optimum throughout the experiment. Fish were fed commercial fish food to satiation twice a day. Cobia grew 0.84%/day in summer (March-September) and 0.41%/day in winter (October-February). The slowest growth occurred in late December at temperatures of 15.0- 16.5°C and the fastest during summer at temperatures above 28°C.