J. W. Evans, J. H. Tidwell, S. D. Coyle, C. Weibel, K. D. Dodson, and J. McKinney, Aquaculture Research Center, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY 40601

Abstract. Juvenile yellow perch (Perca flavescens) were evaluated under controlled conditions in tanks for 12 weeks to determine the effect of temperature on growth to advanced sizes under intensive culture conditions. Yellow perch weighing 6.6 g were stocked into nine 1.83 m x 3.66 m x 0.71 m tanks at 131.4 fish/m³. There were three replicate tanks per temperature (20^o, 24^o, and 28^oC). Perch were fed to apparent satiation twice daily using a 45% crude protein diet with 16% crude fat. After 77 days the perch in the 24^o treatment were significantly larger (P < 0.05) than those in the 20^o and 28^o treatments which were not significantly different (P < 0.05) from each other. Apparent feed conversion ratios (FCR) after 77 days were 0.80 (20^o), 0.78 (24^o), and 1.03 (28^o), specific growth rates (%) were 2.03 (20^o), 2.21 (24^o), and 1.83 (28^o).