Table 2. Summary of dietary nutrient requirement and utilization of gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata
(requirement expressed for dry feed except otherwise where mentioned)

Nutrient level		Life stage/size class
		Fry	Fingerling	Juvenile	Grower
Crude protein, % min				50�60	45�50
Digestible protein (DP), g/kg body weight/day⁽¹⁾			13	5.7	4.1
Amino acids, % of dietary protein		⁽²⁾	⁽⁴⁾	⁽³⁾	⁽³⁾
	Arginine	<4.7	5.55	5.4	5.4
	Histidine		1.89	1.7	1.7
	Isoleucine		2.55	2.6	2.6
	Leucine		4.75	4.5	4.5
	Lysine	5.0 �	5.13	5	5
	Methionine		2.6	2.4	2.4
	Methionine + Cystine	4.0 �
	Phenylalanine			2.9	2.9
	Phenylalanine + Tyrosine		5.76
	Threonine	2.6 �	2.98	2.8	2.8
	Tryptophan	0.6 �	0.75	0.6	0.6
	Valine		3.21	3	3
Crude lipid, % min		15�20	12�24	12�25	12�25
Essential fatty acids, % min
	n-3 PUFA		1	1	1
	20:5n-3 (EPA)
	22:6n-3 (DHA)				0.6
Carbohydrate, % max			20	20	20
Crude fibre, % max			3	3	3
Minerals
Macroelements (%)
	Calcium, max
	Phosphorus, min		0.75	0.65
Vitamins, min IU/kg
	Vitamin A		2 500
	Vitamin D		2 400
Vitamins, min mg/kg
	Vitamin E		50
	Vitamin K		10
	Thiamine	0.5�5.0⁽⁵⁾	1
	Riboflavin		4
	Pyridoxine	3�5⁽⁶⁾	3
	Pantothenic acid		20
	Niacin	63�83⁽⁷⁾	10
	Folic acid		1
	Vitamin B12		0.01
	Choline		1 000
	Inositol		300
	Biotin	0.37	0.15
	Ascorbic acid		50
Data sources:�
(1) Lupatsch et al. (2001)
(2) Tibaldi and Kaushik (2005)
(3) Kaushik (1998b)
(4) Peres and Oliva-Teles (2009)
(5) Morris and Davies (1995c)
(6) Morris & Davies (1995b)
(7) Morris & Davies (1995a)

Table 2.1. DP/DE ratios in gilthead seabream

Size (g)	DP/DE ratios
0.8�3.3�	30.2�27.6�
5.6�29.8�	25.9�22.7�
42.5�146.3�	22.4�20.8�
17.5 - 49.9�	28.1�21.5�
209.0�333.0�	23.8�23.8�
DP/DE = Digestible protein (mg) / digestible energy (kJ)
Source: Koven (2002)

Table 2.2 Adequate levels of n-3 PUFA for gilthead seabream larval rearing
Weeks		EPA + DHA	EPA/DHA ratio
		(mg/g dry weight of prey)
1�2	Rotifers	15�20	< 1
2�5	Artemia	25�30	< 1
Juveniles		EPA + DHA	EPA/DHA ratio
		(mg/g dry feed)
1 g		9	1
10 g		10	0.5
40 g�		19	0.5
16�500 g�		10	1
Source: Koven (2002)