What is a good FCR for tilapia?

A good FCR for tilapia is around 1.5:1 (1.5 kg of feed per 1 kg of weight gain). Excellent operations achieve 1.2:1, while the typical range is 1.5–1.8:1.

What is a good FCR for salmon?

Atlantic salmon have among the best FCR of any farmed animal. Excellent operations achieve 0.9:1, good is 1.1:1, and typical is around 1.3:1.

How is FCR calculated?

FCR = Total Feed Used (g) / Total Weight Gain (g). A lower FCR means more efficient feed conversion. For example, if you use 225g of feed and the fish gains 150g, FCR = 1.5.

What factors affect FCR?

Key factors include water temperature, feed quality, feeding frequency, stocking density, dissolved oxygen levels, disease status, and genetics. Optimal conditions minimize FCR.

ToolsConductScience tool

AquacultureFree in-browser calculator

FCR & Growth Calculator.

Calculate feed conversion ratio and average daily gain. Benchmark your aquaculture operation against species-specific performance standards.

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Validated2026-04-08

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Growth Parameters

Species

Start Weight (g)

End Weight (g)

Days

Feed Used (g)

Results

goodFCR 1.50

Feed conversion ratio of 1.50 for tilapia is rated good.

FCR

1.50

feed conversion ratio

ADG

5.0 g/d

average daily gain

Total Gain

150 g

weight gained

Feed Used

225 g

total feed

When to use

Monthly or per-cycle feed efficiency evaluation
Comparing performance across ponds, tanks, or cohorts
Evaluating feed quality or formulation changes
Benchmarking against industry standards

Do not use for

For very short periods (< 7 days) — FCR needs sufficient time to be meaningful
When significant mortality occurred — adjust for dead fish weight first

FCR improves with growth stage

Fingerlings typically have higher FCR than market-size fish. Compare FCR within similar growth stages.

Account for mortality

Dead fish consumed feed but did not contribute to final biomass. High mortality inflates apparent FCR.

Temperature drives efficiency

Fish at optimal temperature have the best FCR. Cold or heat stress diverts energy to maintenance rather than growth.

Method

FCR benchmarks derived from FAO Technical Papers and NRC (2011) nutrient requirements. Rating tiers: excellent, good, typical, poor based on species-specific published ranges.

Validated

Last validated 2026-04-08. Calculations are designed for planning and documentation support; verify procurement decisions against manufacturer specifications or institutional SOPs.

How to cite

How to Cite

ConductScience FCR & Growth Calculator (v1.0). ConductScience, Inc. 2026. Available at: https://conductscience.com/tools/fcr-growth-calculator

Tacon AGJ, Metian M. Feed Matters: Satisfying the Feed Demand of Aquaculture. Rev Fish Sci Aquac. 2015.

NRC. Nutrient Requirements of Fish and Shrimp. National Academies Press. 2011.

Understanding Feed Conversion Ratio

Feed conversion ratio (FCR) is the most important economic metric in aquaculture. It measures how efficiently fish convert feed into body mass. A lower FCR means less feed is needed per unit of growth, directly reducing production costs. FCR varies by species, life stage, water quality, feed formulation, and management practices. Monitoring FCR over time helps identify problems early — a rising FCR often signals health issues, poor feed quality, or environmental stress.

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