# What Should FCR Be in Fish? FCR Values by Species

> Typical FCR ranges for sea bass, sea bream, trout, salmon, tilapia, shrimp and carp; the factors that affect FCR and how to interpret your own value.

- URL: https://demo.fcrsoft.com/en/fcr/what-should-fcr-be
- Language: en
- Updated: 2026-10-03
- Publisher: FCRSOFT (https://fcrsoft.com)

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# What Should FCR Be in Fish?

There is no single “ideal FCR”. Even for the same species, the value changes with the farming system, water temperature, fish size, feed quality and feeding management. The ranges below are values commonly seen in commercial production.
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| Type | Typical FCR range | Suitable water temperature | Typical harvest weight | Production period |

| [European Seabass](https://demo.fcrsoft.com/en/fcr/sea-bass-fcr) Dicentrarchus labrax | **1.6–2.0** | 18–26 °C | 350–500 g | 14–20 months |

| [Gilthead Seabream](https://demo.fcrsoft.com/en/fcr/sea-bream-fcr) Sparus aurata | **1.6–2.0** | 18–26 °C | 350–450 g | 14–18 months |

| [Rainbow Trout](https://demo.fcrsoft.com/en/fcr/trout-fcr) Oncorhynchus mykiss | **1.0–1.3** | 9–17 °C | 250–350 g | 9–12 months |

| [Atlantic Salmon](https://demo.fcrsoft.com/en/fcr/salmon-fcr) Salmo salar | **1.1–1.4** | 8–16 °C | 4–6 kg | 14–24 months |

| [Nile Tilapia](https://demo.fcrsoft.com/en/fcr/tilapia-fcr) Oreochromis niloticus | **1.4–1.8** | 24–32 °C | 500–800 g | 6–8 months |

| [Whiteleg Shrimp](https://demo.fcrsoft.com/en/fcr/shrimp-fcr) Penaeus vannamei | **1.2–1.6** | 26–32 °C | 15–25 g | 3–4 months |

| [Common Carp](https://demo.fcrsoft.com/en/fcr/carp-fcr) Cyprinus carpio | **1.5–2.2** | 20–28 °C | 1–2 kg | 18–24 months |

Values are general references and may vary with your farm’s conditions.

## Factors that determine FCR

- Species and genetics

- Water temperature and dissolved oxygen

- Fish size: smaller fish convert feed more efficiently

- Nutritional value, pellet size and digestibility of the feed

- Feeding frequency, amount and feed loss

- Stocking density, health and stress

## How should you interpret your own FCR?

Compare your value first with your own previous periods for the same species and system, then cage by cage or batch by batch. Sudden increases usually point to feeding, water quality or measurement errors.
[Free tool FCR Calculator](https://demo.fcrsoft.com/en/tools/fcr-calculator) FCRSOFT

## FCRSOFT does this for you automatically

You don’t need to do the calculations and checks on this page by hand every day. FCRSOFT derives them all automatically from the records entered in the field.

- FCR and biomass are updated per cage with every feeding and weighing record.

- FCR values above target are flagged in the panel.

- Economic and biological FCR reports are ready by batch and period.

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Last updated: 10/3/2026

## Related tools and guides

[Free tool ### FCR Calculator Free FCR calculator: instantly work out economic and biological FCR, feed cost per kg and the savings from a 0.1 FCR improvement, from biomass gain and feed given. Open the tool](https://demo.fcrsoft.com/en/tools/fcr-calculator) [Guide ### What Is FCR? What is FCR (feed conversion ratio), how is it calculated and how do economic and biological FCR differ? Formula, worked example and ways to track FCR. Read the guide](https://demo.fcrsoft.com/en/fcr/what-is-fcr) [Guide ### Why Does FCR Rise in Fish? Overfeeding, temperature, low oxygen, stocking density, disease, feed quality, measurement error and stress: the 8 most common causes of rising FCR and how to fix them. Read the guide](https://demo.fcrsoft.com/en/fcr/why-does-fcr-increase) [Free tool ### FCR Comparison Compare the FCR of four cages, ponds or batches side by side and see the most efficient unit and the extra feed cost of the others. Open the tool](https://demo.fcrsoft.com/en/tools/fcr-comparison)