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University of Georgia College of Agriculture, Coastal Plain Station, P.O. Box 13687, Savannah, Georgia 31406
Channel catfish fingerlings were fed purified diets containing five levels (0, 20, 40, 80, and 120 mg/kg) and six levels (0, 3, 8, 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg) of riboflavin in separate 20 and 12 week feeding studies. The dietary riboflavin level required to provide maximal growth in channel catfish fingerlings was found to be approximately 9 mg/kg of diet. All fish fed unsupplemented diets (riboflavin content less than 0.1 mg/kg diet) demonstrated a short body dwarfism which was the result of arrested longitudinal growth of the vertebrae. This abnormality did not occur in groups fed 3 mg/kg or higher levels of riboflavin. No histological abnormalities were recognized in the liver, kidney, lateral muscle, gastrointestinal tract, gills, or bones of deficient fish.
KEY WORDS: catfish vitamin B2 riboflavin dwarfism
Manuscript received 13 January 1978.