The domestication of Podocnemis expansa (Gigant Amazonian turtle) with commercial purpose it was implanted in Brazil in 1992. However, a lot of subjects about handling, nutrition, sanity and mainly reproduction are still obscure these animals. The objective of this study was evaluated the effects of crude protein concentration and source on body weight of Podocnemis expansa. The turtles (n=480) were transferred to Setor de Piscicultura EV/UFG. Six animal groups (80/each) were put in water tanks of 500 liters. Five groups received rations formulated to different concentration of crude protein (CP) vegetable: CP 18% (PB18), CP 21% (PB21), CP 24% (PB24), CP 27% (PB27) and CP 30% (PB30). Another group (PBA30) was fed commercial ration for fish with 30% of PB of animal source. Body weight (PC), the length measures (CC) and width of the shell (LC), length (CP) and width of the breastplate (LP), were evaluated every 60 days. The body weight was higher for turtles fed PBA30 diet than those fed PB30, PB27 diets, without differences among these groups. The lower biometric measures were observed for groups fed PB24 PB21 and PB18 diets, that did not differ among them. Little turtle of P. expansa in the first ten months of life fed diet with crude protein concentration higher than 27% showed higher body biometric measures than those fed with diets with lower protein concentration. The diet containing crude protein of animal origin presented better results than the one of vegetable origin.
growth; protein; neonates; nutrition; turtle
