Role of Compensatory Growth in Walleye Fingerling Production

Compensatory growth during production of fingerling walleyes Sander vitreus was evaluated. Age‐0 walleyes (mean weight ± SE = 26.1 ± 0.73 g) were stocked into nine 100‐L tanks (three tanks/treatment). Fish were fed daily (control); fed for 5 d consecutively and then went unfed for 2 d (5‐d treatment); or fed for 3 d consecutively and then went unfed for 4 d (3‐d treatment). Treatments were repeated weekly for an 8‐week period. Full compensation occurred in the 5‐d treatment, as shown by increased specific growth rate (SGR) and no statistical difference in final weight relative to that of the control group. Fish in the 3‐d treatment exhibited partial compensation in which SGR increased periodically, but final weight differed significantly from that of the control group. Information garnered from this study exemplifies the potential for achieving compensatory growth during fingerling walleye production.