• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.62-71
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• 1997

The apparent nutrient digestibilities were examined by using chromic oxide indicator according to the various fecal collection methods in juvenile and adult Korean rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli). Feces were collected from three replicate groups of fish by dissection, stripping or decantation using fecal collector attached to fish rearing tank, respectively. The digestibilities of dry matter, protein, lipid, and energy were affected by fecal collection methods (P<0.01), but not affected by fish size. The digestibilities of nutrient determined by stripping or decantation methods were significantly higher than those determined by dissection method (P<0.01). No significant differences in the digestibilities of protein, lipid and energy were found between the stripping and decantation methods in adult fish (P>0.01). The digestibilities of dry matter, protein, lipid, energy, nitrogen-free extract, and total amino acids in juvenile and adult fish were 58, 93, 94, 79, 32, and $93\%$, and 61, 94, 96, 80, 29, and $94\%$, respectively, when they were measured by decantation method. Methionine, cystine and valine digestibilities were significantly lower than those of other amino acids in both juvenile and adult fish (P<0.01). Results indicate that stripping or decantation with fecal collector could be a reliable digestibility procedure for measuring the nutrient digestibilities in Korean rockfish.