Preliminary studies on the growth and food consumption of the juvenile loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta L.) in captivity

Abstract

The effects of temperature and food ration on the growth of juvenile loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta L. were examined in relation to body weight under controlled conditions in the laboratory. With increasing food ration there was increasing growth rate. The best daily growth rate at 20°C water temperature was 1.87%. Basal metabolism was reached at a daily feed rate of 1.01% body weight at 20.5°C derived from a formula for growth, namely g = Af − B where g = 0.62f − 0.63.