sixteen week feeding trial was carried out with young gilthead sea bream with a mean weight of 3.2 g .The effects of diet
composition and varying dietary protein level on several nutritional parameters of S. aurata were studied. Three different combinations (A, B and C) were used as the main ingredient in formulating three pairs of diets differing in their protein content (38 or 46 % ). The growth of the fish was negatively correlated with the soybean meal content of the diet . The best growth was obtained with diet of 38% protein, containing the protein mixture (B). It is produced
significantly (p≤0.05) greater weight gain, feed conversion ,protein efficiency ratio value and protein retained than all other diets . Intermediate responses were observed for fish fed diet containing protein from mixture (A) with 46% protein. While diets containing mixture (C), for both two levels of protein yielded the lowest values . The protein content of the whole fish carcases was negatively correlated with the fish weight and positively with the soybean meal content of the diet. The body lipid content had an inverse relationship. Feed cost per kg weight gain with a diet containing 38 % protein formulated from mixture (B) proved to be the most economical diet. This diet appears to provide a practical
diet for Sparus aurata fingerlings .