Goldan, O., National Center for Mariculture, P.O. Box 1212, Elat 88112, Israel
Popper, D., National Center for Mariculture, P.O. Box 1212, Elat 88112, Israel
Kolkovski, S., National Center for Mariculture, P.O. Box 1212, Elat 88112, Israel
Karplus, I., Department of Aquaculture, Agricultural Research Organization, P.O. Box 6, Bet-Dagan 50250, Israel

The effects of dry food type and live/dry food ratio on survival, growth rate and size distribution of juvenile gilthead sea bream were investigated. Dietary treatments consisted of a high (73.5%) and low (53.2%) protein diet based mainly on squid meal vs. soybean and fish meal, respectively, while live food consisted of Artemia nauplii. The effects of the two dry food types and three live/dry food ratios were tested over a period of 14 days, using a factorial experimental design. Survival was similar and high in all treatment combinations. Growth rate was affected by both food type and live/dry food ratio with a significant interaction between the two tested variables. Size distribution, measured as the change in the coefficient of variation of mean weight (ΔCV) was affected by both food type and live/dry food ratio with a lack of an interaction between the two variables. Possible behavioral interactions and nutritional factors underlying these results are discussed.