Fruits and seeds consumed by tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum, Cuvier, 1818) incorporated in the diets. Gastrointestinal tract digestibility and transit velocity

Abstract

A feeding trial was carried out to evaluate nutrient gastrointestinal digestibility and transit velocity in tambaqui fed two species of fruits and two species of seeds incorporated in a reference diet. In the reference diet, 55% of the yellow corn grain was replaced, in equal proportions, by grounded meal prepared from the jauari (Astrocaryum jauari) and embaúba (Cecropia sp.) fruits, and from munguba (Pseudobombax munguba) and seringa barriguda (Hevea spruceana) seeds. Fifteen 250-L fiber cement tanks, with continuous water flow and aeration, were stocked with a total of sixty fish with 1627±112.8 g average weight, and four fish in each unit. A completely randomized design, with five treatments and three replicates, was used. During the experimental feeding, the fishes were hand-fed to visual satiety twice daily, at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Feed transit time was calculated by the difference between time of the fish ingestion of diet (T0) and time (Tfinal) of the first appearance of the green colored feces, due to the presence of chromic oxide (Cr2O3) added to the diet as an inert indicator. Fish were sacrificed by a thermal shock at 4°C. The samples were collected from the stomach and in three distinct parts from the intestine. Fruits and seeds inclusion in the diet significantly altered the nutrient composition and the digestibility coefficient of all experimental diets. Diet composition showed significant effect on the feed gastrointestinal transit time.