Riboflavin Requirement of Fingerling Red Hybrid Tilapia Grown in Seawater

Red hybrid tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus × O. niloticus fingerlings were fed diets containing 0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, 20.0 and 40.0 mg/kg, and 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 and 20.0 mg/kg of riboflavin in separate 8 and 12 wk feeding studies, respectively. The dietary riboflavin level required to provide maximum growth and survival, and prevent deficiency symptoms in red hybrid tilapia fingerlings was found to be approximately 5 mg/kg of diet. In both trials, fish fed the diet devoid of supplemental riboflavin exhibited anorexia, reduced growth and nervous symptoms after 4–6 wk. Mortality began to occur after the sixth week. None of these abnormalities were observed during the first 6 wk in fish fed the riboflavin supplemented diets. However, by the seventh week, fish fed the diet supplemented with 2.5 mg/kg of riboflavin showed reduced appetite and growth rate. In both experiments, short body dwarfism was observed during week 8 for fish fed the diet without riboflavin supplementation. In experiment 1, fish fed the riboflavin-deficient diet had lens cataracts at week 8. This deficiency sign was not observed in experiment 2. Histological studies of liver, kidney, spleen, lateral muscle, gill and gastrointestinal tract revealed no major histopathological changes.     

Effects of Thermal and Thermo-Haline Shocks on Survival and Osmotic Concentration of the Tilapias Oreochromis mossambicus and Oreochromis aureus × Oreochromis niloticus Hybrids

Abstract.— The effects of thermal and thermo/haline shocks on the tilapias Oreochromis mossambicus and O. aureus × O. niloricus hybrids were investigated. Fingerlings were transferred abruptly from 25 C fresh water to fresh water or salt water (26 ppt) maintaining temperatures of 15, 20, 30 and 35 C. In fresh water, fish survival was not affected by temperature shock, but they suffered from a chill coma and developed fungal infection at 15 C. In salt water, thermo-haline shock did not affect the survival of O. mossambicus , while the survival rates of tilapia hybrids were 6.7, 100, 100, 70 and 59.7% at 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 C, respectively. Plasma osmotic concentrations of O. mossambicus transferred to 15 and 35 C salt water were quickly and sharply increased, but gradually decreased to lower levels. Osmotic concentrations of tilapia hybrids were also increased, but never returned to their initial (lower) levels over one week. This study revealed that these fishes are more tolerant to high rather than low temperature shocks and O. mossambicus are more resistant to thermo-haline shocks rather than tilapia hybrids. It also indicated that thermo-haline shocks should be minimized during fish transportation and acclimation.     

Management options for a more complete utilization of the biological fish production in Sri Lankan reservoirs

Abstract– Stock dynamics of the introduced tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus and co-occurring indigenous cyprinids were studied in a typical lowland reservoir in Sri Lanka. All species exhibited peaks in reproductive activity during the rainy seasons in November and May. O. mossambicus was estimated to grow to 14 cm in its first year and to 21 cm in its second. A high natural mortality ( M was found, both for the cyprinids ( M =1.3 yr⁻¹ to 4.7 yr⁻¹ over a range of species) and for O. mossambicus ( M = 1.9 yr^−l and 1.7 yr⁻¹ for females and males). The fishing mortality ( F ) of O. mossumbicus , estimated for the length range from 15.0 to 18.5 cm, was 5.5 yr⁻¹ for females and 4.7 yr⁻¹ for males. The total fish biomass was estimated at 1 829 kg/ha, with 128 kg/ha O. mossambicus and 1 098 kg/ha small pelagic cyprinids, mainly Amblypharyngodon melettinus . The total biological fish production was around 5 400 kg/ha/yr, with O. mossambicus and the small pelagic cyprinids accounting for 400 kg/ha/yr and 3 600 kg/ha/yr respectively. The commercial fishery yielded 242 kg/ha/yr (including 70% or 169 kg/ha/yr O. mossambicus ), indicating an incomplete utilization of the total biological fish production. It was concluded that there is scope for an approximately 100% increase of the total yield. Reimplementation of a 76 mm minimum mesh size, to prevent overfishing of O. mossambicus , is recommended as a management measure. Additional options are direct exploitation of the untapped resource of small pelagic cyprinids, or indirect exploitation by means of a culture-based fishery on Lates calcarifer , a controllable predator.     

Effects of temperature and lipid droplet adherence on mortality of hatchery-reared southern hake Merluccius australis larvae

Effects of exogenous (water temperature) and endogenous (lipid droplet adherence) factors were experimentally tested on early survival of southern hake Merluccius australis reared under controlled conditions. Experiments to determine the effect of temperature (10, 12 and 14 °C) on larval growth rates and yolk-sac absorption rates of unfed southern hake were carried out under laboratory conditions. There was no significant differences in growth rates at the temperature range tested (ANCOVA, F = 0.164, p > 0.25), but yolk-sac absorption rates and mortality increased with temperature (ANCOVA, F = 53.84, p < 0.001). A high percentage (between 31 and 81%) of hake eggs showed a lipid droplet not adhered (i.e., freely moving in the yolk, and not located in the posteriormost portion of the yolk-sac). In a second experiment, fed southern hake larvae with the lipid droplet not adhered during embryonic development did not survive after yolk-sac absorption. This study provides the first data on the influence of the lipid droplet absorption on larval survival of cultured hake, and can be used as an early indication of the quality of the batch.     

Effects of Yucca shidigera Extract on Growth, Nitrogen Retention, Ammonia Excretion, and Toxicity in Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus and Hybrid Tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus × O. niloticus

Nitrogenous waste control in aquaculture systems is necessary to maintain healthy animals and to meet effluent standards. Decreased ammonia production has been attained in traditional livestock production systems by adding extracts of Yucca shidigera to the feed or storage lagoon system. An extract of Yucca shidigera was fed to post yolk-sac and juvenile channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus and hybrid tilapia Oreochrornis mossambicus × O. niloticus to determine the effects on growth, nitrogen retention, ammonia excretion, and toxicity. Post yolk-sac channel catfish fry fed the 1.0-g yucca extract/kg as an agar coating were the only group of experimental organisms that had significantly greater weight gains compared to the control and 0.5-g yucca extract/kg diet groups after 12 wk. Significantly lower fecal nitrogen concentrations were obtained from catfish fed diets containing yucca extract compared to the control groups, although no differences between fecal nitrogen concentrations for catfish fed diets with either 0.5-g or 1.0-g yucca extract/kg diet occurred. Ammonia excretion rates were significantly lower for catfish fed diets containing yucca extract compared to the control group. Accordingly, fish fed diets containing the yucca extract had significantly greater whole-body protein composition, while lipid levels were significantly lower. No significant differences in proximate composition occurred for fish fed any of the diets containing yucca extract, though growth rates were significantly higher than the controls. This study demonstrated that a yucca extract can be used in the diet of channel catfish, and increased growth and decreased ammonia concentrations can be obtained in rearing systems.     

Influence of 17-α-Methyltestosterone on Red Tilapia Under Two Thermal Regimes

Fingerling red tilapia ( Oreochromis mossambicus ± O. niloticus ) were orally administered 17-α-methyltestosterone (MT) under a warmwater (27.0 ± 0.5 C) and coolwater (21.5 ± 0.5 C) thermal regime. In the warmwater experiment, fish received either 0, 1, 5, 10, 30, 60, or 100 mg MT/kg feed for 75 days. In the coolwater experiment, fish received 0, 10, or 60 mg MT/kg feed for 75 days followed by a 34 day withdrawal period. After 75 days, fish receiving 60 mg MT/kg feed (best treatment) in the warmwater and coolwater experiments exhibited significantly higher growth rates than controls by 35.3 and 45.8%, respectively. Likewise, feed conversion among groups receiving 60 mg MT/kg feed in the warmwater and coolwater experiments were significantly better than the controls (1.14 versus 1.30 and 1.44 versus 1.77, respectively). During the withdrawal period, no significant differences in growth rates or feed conversion were observed between the control and treatment groups. MT treatment significantly affected the body composition (whole body and empty carcass) of the red tilapia in both experiments, elevating percent moisture and protein values, but depressing percent fat values. Results demonstrated that incorporation of MT into fingerling diets offers potential for extending the period when tilapias actively feed and grow in temperate climates.     

Effect of diethylstilbestrol (DES) and 17 β-estradiol (E2) on growth, survival and histological structure of the internal organs in juvenile European catfish Silurus glanis (L.)

The effect of supplemented commercial diets with diethylstilbestrol (DES—15, 30 and 60 mg kg^?1) and 17 β-estradiol (E2—30 and 60 mg kg^?1), two chemicals commonly used in sex reversal procedure in fish, on survival and growth parameters of juvenile European catfish (Silurus glanis) was evaluated. During the two experiments, lasting 28 days each, fish were kept at temperature 25.2–26.5 °C, pH 7.4–9.3 and oxygen concentration 5.0–7.3 mg O₂ dm^?3. DES supplementation resulted in depressed growth rate of catfish. In experimental groups fed with E2, no negative effect on growth parameters was found. Both chemicals did not result in observed mortality. In all of the experimental DES groups, hepatosomatic index increased significantly, which suggests negative influence on physiological condition of catfish. DES supplementation significantly changed cytological factors of liver cells and caused hepatic alterations in parenchyma, such as vacuolization and blood congestion. Similarly, supplementation of E2 in food resulted in changes in cytological parameters of hepatocytes. However, E2 did not cause pathological changes within the liver tissue. Histological examination of the catfish gonads showed 19 and 38 % of sterile fish after treatment with 30 and 60 mg kg^?1 of DES, respectively. The results suggest that DES served in food could be ineffective in hormonal feminization process of European catfish. No disturbances of sex differentiation process after E2 treatment were observed. However, slight feminization effect in the highest level of E2 treatment group was recorded.     

Hormonal sex reversal of tilapias: implications of hormone treatment application in closed water systems

The phenomenon of incidental sex reversal was observed in experiments originally designed to determine the importance of feeding duration and feed quality in the optimization of masculinization and feminization treatments of Oreochromis niloticus (L.) fry by oral application of hormones. Four separate experiments were conducted: (1) masculinization and (2) feminization using three feeding durations and (3) masculinization and (4) feminization using three alternative feed mixtures. Masculinization experiments incorporating 17 α-methyltestosterone (MT) into the feed at 40 mg kg^?1 were applied to putative monosex male progeny whilst feminization treatments were applied to putative all female fry using diethylstilboestrol (DES) at 1000 mg kg^?1. Treatments were applied outdoors in small cages suspended in 900-l circular concrete tanks with a flow through rate of 1-l min^?1. Replicate cages for all treatments and the controls in each experiment were reared together in the same tank. Only the first experiment produced significant differences in sex ratio, with the control treatment producing a slightly lower proportion of males than the three MT treatments at different durations. The most significant finding was that in all experiments the sex ratio of the control differed significantly from expectations and in all but experiment 1, did not differ from those of the treated fish in which sex reversal had clearly been effected. It appears likely that incidental sex reversal occurred in the control fish as a result of the accumulation of active metabolites from the treated fish and/or leachates from uneaten food given to fish in the same water body. The results are discussed in the context of improving the efficiency and safety of hormonal sex reversal treatments.     

莫桑比克罗非鱼和荷那龙罗非鱼耐盐性的初步研究

用人工配制的6个盐度咸水(0、15、25、30、35、40),对莫桑比克罗非鱼和荷那龙罗非鱼耐盐性进行了初步研究。结果表明:在几种耐盐指标中,莫桑比克罗非鱼和荷那龙罗非鱼的96小时半致死盐度分别为22．29和21．56;在除盐度为40外的其它各盐度梯度中,莫桑比克罗非鱼的50％成活时间和平均成活时间均高于荷那龙罗非鱼,但差异不显著 (p>0．01)。在对2种罗非鱼的盐度驯化过程中,各个驯化盐度梯度下,莫桑比克罗非鱼的死亡率均小于荷那龙罗非鱼的死亡率。     

Status of the fishery of Pimbmrettewa wewa, a man-made lake in Sri Lanka

Abstract. The status of the fishery of Pimburctlewa wewu, a man-made lake in Sri Lanka, was studied from January 1985 to January 1986. The annual fish yield in the reservoir is 441 kg/ha, one of the highest in the south-east Asian region. Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters) is the dominant species in the fishery and accounted for about 90% by weight of the total catch. Although there were monthly variations in catch per unit effort, the daily catch per fisherman was not adversely affected. A possibility of having a more productive fishery is suggested In reducing The minimum permissible mesh size in the gillnet fishery during the peak recruitment season in May–June. The possible effects of reducing the mush size are discussed. Using the length-frequency data of O. mossambicus , the asymptotic length and the growth constant were estimated to be 39.3cm and 0.34 respectively. The estimates of total mortality (2.42). natural mortality (0–82) and mean selection length (24.6 cm) were based on these growth parameters Yield-per-recruit analysis indicated that the O. mossambictus fishery in the reservoir was optimally exploited.     

The effect of high salt diet on the direct transfer of Oreochromis mossambicus,O. spilurus and O. aureus/O. niloticus hybrids to sea water

The effect of feeding a high salt diet on the survival rates of some fresh water Oreochromis (formerly Sarotherodon) species in marine culture was experimentally investigated. High salt diet (10% NaCl) was fed to O. mossambicus, O. spilurus and O. aureus/O. niloticus hybrids for a period of 4 weeks and the survival rates were estimated after each week by directly transferring the species to various salinity levels. Feeding of dietary sodium chloride considerably enhanced the survival rates of O. mossambicus up to 84%, and the O. aureus/O. niloticus hybrids and O. spilurus up to 62% and 50%, respectively, in sea water. Best survival rates were recorded after 2 weeks of feeding the salt diet for O. mossambicus and O. aureus/O. niloticus hybrids, whereas in O. spilurus best survival was not achieved until 3 weeks. Contrary to the sudden increase in plasma osmotic concentration recorded in the fish transferred directly from fresh water to 60% sea water, high salt diet feeding prior to the transfer resulted in only a slight increase in the plasma osmotic concentration in sea water.     

The effect of maternal size on larval characteristics of Persian sturgeon Acipenser persicus

The objective of this work was to study the relationship between female size (weight) and variables of egg and larval stage of Persian sturgeon Acipenser persicus . In this study, 19 female breeders were captured in Caspian Sea and fertilized by routine methods. Positive significant correlations ( P <0.05) were established between female weight and ovulated eggs per female, time of second mitosis division and volume of yolk-sac at hatching. There was not significant correlation ( r =0.33, P =0.161) between female weight and egg diameter. Female weight was not affected weight of larvae at hatching time ( r =0.37, P =0.119), as well as larval length ( r =−0.14, P =0.558) and larval weight at the end of the experiment (48 hours after first feeding) ( r =0.16, P =0.491). Mortality rate during yolk-sac absorption was higher with increased female weight but their correlation was not significant ( r =0.40, P =0.076). During the first feeding stage, mortality rate was 13.39% and there was no significant correlation between mortality rate in this period and female weight ( r =−0.12, P =0.613). Conclusively, as a result female size influenced fecundity, time of second mitosis division and yolk-sac volume at hatching time without affecting mortality rate during yolk-sac absorption and first feeding stage in Persian sturgeon. Thus, smaller female broods do not cause more mortality than larger ones in larval production and they can be used in reproduction procedure.     

A Mammalian Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone Increases Serum Growth Hormone Levels and Somatic Growth at Suboptimal Temperatures in Tilapia

The effects of a mammalian growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), PrebGRF(1–78)OH (bGHRH), on growth and serum growth hormone (GH) levels were investigated in tilapias Oreochromis mossambicus and O. niloticus × O. aureus . Fish were injected intramuscularly or implanted intramuscularly (Silastic or cholesterol implants) with distilled water, 0.1 μg/kg bGHRH, 1.0 μg/kg bGHRH, 10.0 μg/kg bGHRH, or 100.0 μg/kg bGHRH and compared to untreated controls, fish implanted with 60 mg/kg 17α-methyltestosterone (MT), or a combination of bGHRH concentrations plus either MT, 0.01 μg/kg of a thyroid hormone (T₃), or 0.01 μg/kg of a glucocorticoid (DEX). The bGHRH increased serum GH levels in tilapia maintained at suboptimal temperatures (18 C). Serum GH levels were highest (5.3–0.45 ng/mL) for fish injected with 10.0 μg/kg bGHRH. Fish implanted with a Silastic implant containing 10.0 μg/kg bGHRH had significantly higher (4.35–0.35 ng/mL) serum GH levels than those with an equivalent dosage in a cholesterol implant. The addition of MT, thyroid hormones, and glucocorticoids did not increase serum GH levels above those obtained for fish receiving bGHRH alone. Tilapia reared at suboptimal temperatures and implanted with 10.0 μg/kg and 100.0 μg/kg bGHRH had significantly greater increases in weight and length than control fish. Fish implanted with bGHRH, MT or bGHRH plus MT had significantly higher moisture and protein content, while fat and ash contents were significantly lower than controls or sham-implanted fish. Fish implanted with bGHRH or bGHRH plus MT had significantly higher gonadosomatic indices than fish implanted with MT alone, shams or non-treated controls. This study demonstrates that a mammalian GHRH stimulates release of GH, promotes somatic and gonadal growth and may affect reproductive performance in tilapia.     

Characterization of iron deficiency and the dietary iron requirement of fingerling channel catfish

The present study was conducted to determine the minimum dietary iron (Fe) requirement of fingerling channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). Purified egg white diets containing supplemental iron (as FeSO₄ · 7 H₂O) levels ranging from 0 to 50 mg/kg were fed to catfish in aquaria for 10 weeks. Catfish fed the basal diet which contained 9.6 mg Fe/kg diet exhibited suppressed growth and feed efficiency, as well as reduced hemoglobin, hematocrit, plasma iron, transferrin saturation and erythrocyte count values. Normal growth and feed efficiency were observed for catfish fed 10 mg or more of supplemental iron/kg; however, 20 mg supplemental iron/kg was required to maintain optimum hematological values. Based on these data, the dietary iron requirement of fingerling channel catfish was determined to be not more than 30 mg Fe/kg diet.     

Therapy of salmonellosis in Macaca arctoides

Four clinically normal M. arctoides shed Salmonella infantis after the stress of transportation. One animal developed diarrhea and died. After therapy with 30 mg chloramphenicol/kg BW orally for two times eight days, thereafter 10 mg neomycin/kg BW orally for eight days and finally 2 mg gentamicin/kg BW i. m., they still shed S. infantis. Oral application of daily 100 mg ofloxacin (Tarivid) for 10 days and repetition of that same therapy for seven days after one week without therapy terminated salmonellas-shedding. The animals were released from quarantine and transferred into the zoo's monkey house.     

饲料中添加桑叶黄酮对凡纳滨对虾生长性能、抗氧化指标及抗胁迫能力的影响

为了探讨桑叶黄酮对凡纳滨对虾（Litopenaeus vannamei）生长性能、体成分、血清生化和抗氧化指标的影响,选用初始体重为（1.32±0.01）g的凡纳滨对虾960尾,随机分为6组（每组4个重复,每个重复40尾）,分别投喂在基础饲料中添加0、10 mg/kg、50 mg/kg、100 mg/kg、150 mg/kg和300 mg/kg桑叶黄酮的实验饲料,饲养50 d后测定成活率、生长相关指标、血清生化指标、抗氧化指标及抗低氧胁迫能力。结果显示,饲料中添加桑叶黄酮对凡纳滨对虾成活率、增重率、特定生长率、饲料系数等无显著影响（P>0.05）。饲料中添加桑叶黄酮对凡纳滨对虾体成分无显著性影响（P>0.05）。添加150 mg/kg和300 mg/kg桑叶黄酮可显著提高凡纳滨对虾血清谷丙转氨酶和谷草转氨酶活性（P<0.05）。添加10~300 mg/kg桑叶黄酮可显著提高血清和肝脏总抗氧化能力,显著降低肝胰腺丙二醛和脂质过氧化物的含量,添加50 mg/kg桑叶黄酮可提高血清谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶的活性（P<0.05）。低氧胁迫2 h时,10 mg/kg、50 mg/kg组的累计死亡率显著低于对照组（P<0.05）;在低氧胁迫4 h时,10 mg/kg、50 mg/kg、100 mg/kg组的累计死亡率显著低于对照组（P<0.05）。结果表明,以血清总抗氧化能力为评价指标进行回归分析得出,桑叶黄酮在凡纳滨对虾饲料中的适宜添加量为56.18 mg/kg,添加10~100 mg/kg桑叶黄酮可提高凡纳滨对虾抗低氧胁迫能力。     

5种杂交F1罗非鱼生长性能比较研究

对4种杂交F1尼奥罗非鱼(不同尼罗罗非鱼品系♀×奥利亚罗非鱼♂)尼奥Ⅰ、尼奥Ⅱ、尼奥Ⅲ、尼奥Ⅳ与莫荷鱼(莫桑比克罗非鱼♀×荷那龙罗非鱼♂)进行了生长对比试验。试验结果表明:①绝对增重率(g/d)为莫荷鱼>尼奥Ⅱ>尼奥Ⅲ>尼奥Ⅰ>尼奥Ⅳ(P<0.01);②五种杂交F1罗非鱼雄性率为莫荷鱼>尼奥Ⅲ>尼奥Ⅰ>尼奥Ⅱ>尼奥Ⅳ(P<0.05),成活率彼此间无差异(P>0.05);③肥满度(K)为莫荷鱼>尼奥Ⅰ>尼奥Ⅲ>尼奥Ⅱ>尼奥Ⅳ(P<0.01)。以上结果表明,莫荷鱼生长性能较好,具有推广的价值。     

Dietary copper requirement of fingerling channel catfish

Purified egg white diets containing incremental levels of copper (as CuSO₄·5 H₂O) were fed to fingerling channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) to determine their dietary copper (Cu) requirement. Catfish in aquaria were fed diets containing 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 mg of supplemental copper/kg diet for 13 weeks. Growth and feed efficiency data, as well as hemoglobin, hematocrit and erythrocyte count values were similar for catfish fed the basal diet which contained 0.89 mg Cu/kg diet and all copper-supplemented diets. A diet containing 40 mg of supplemental copper/kg was also fed in this experiment since 16 and 32 mg of supplemental copper/kg had previously been reported to cause suppressed growth of channel catfish. Those fed the 40 mg of supplemental copper/kg diet had similar growth and feed efficiency values as catfish fed the other diets. At the end of week 13, heart cytochrome c oxidase and liver copper—zinc superoxide dismutase activities were significantly reduced in catfish fed diets containing 0 and 2 mg of supplemental copper/kg as compared to those fed 4 mg/kg or more of supplemental copper. Based on the enzymatic data, the minimum dietary copper requirement of channel catfish was determined to be approximately 5 mg of total copper/kg diet.     

Evaluation of the Dietary Zinc Requirement of Penaeus vannamei and Effects of Phytic Acid on Zinc and Phosphorus Bioavailability

Experiments were conducted to determine the dietary zinc requirement of Penaeus vannomri and evaluate the effects of phytate on zinc bioavailability. Prior to initiation of the growth trial, 20-day-old P. vonnamei postlarvae (mean weight 0.0032 g) were fed a casein-gelatin based semi-purified diet lacking zinc supplementation but containing 18 mg Zn/kg diet for one week. Subsequently, juveniles (mean weight 0.058 g) were fed one of seven diets containing either supplemental zinc (0, 15, 30, 60 mg/kg diet) without phytate or supplemental zinc (0, 60, 200 mg/kg diet) with 1.5% phytate for 33 days. Weight gain was greatest in shrimp fed 15 mg supplemental Zn/kg diet. In the absence of dietary phytate, zinc concentrations in the hepatopancreas of shrimp were maximized when zinc was supplemented at levels greater than or equal to 15 mg Zn/kg diet (33 mg total Zn/ kg). Supplementation of 1.5% phytate to the diet did not have a significant effect on growth or zinc concentrations in the carapace; however, it did depress zinc levels in the hepatopancreas. Supplementation of 200 mg Zn/kg diet was required to overcome the depressed bioavailability of zinc caused by the presence of dietary phytate and return zinc levels of the hepatopancreas to that observed when phytate was not present. Based on apparent digestibility values phytate phosphorus was unavailable to the shrimp and the presence of phytate depressed the bioavailability of phosphorus and zinc.     

Interaction of Phytochemical‐Quercetin with the Other Antioxidant,Ascorbic Acid and their Protective Effect in Tilapia after Ultraviolet Irradiation

Semi‐purified, casein‐gelatin‐based diets were prepared and supplemented with quercetin (Q) and/ or ascorbic acid (AA): control diet C–Q–(100 mg/kg AA), diet C –Q+ (100 mg/kg AA + quercetin 10 g/kg), diet C +Q– (1000 mg/kg AA), and diet C +Q+ (1000 mg/kg AA + quercetin 10 g/kg). These diets were fed to tilapia for 19 wk and then fish were divided into controls and ultraviolet (UV) treatments. Fish were exposed to UV radiation. Control groups were protected with a MYLAR^® polyester film and plexiglass. At week 20, the same fish were re‐exposed to UV radiation. Control groups of fish were protected by a double layer of MYLAR^® and the UV groups were exposed with no protection. Before UV exposure, 24 h after, and 7 d after the second treatment, fish liver and skin were dissected for Q and AA analyses. The proportion of oxidized ascorbate was significantly increased in fish from treatments C –Q– and C –Q+ . Q concentrations in fish after exposures were negligible in skin, whereas liver concentrations were significantly different among control (34 ± 10 μg/g) and UV‐irradiated fish (11 ± 6 μg/g), respectively. The interaction between these two dietary antioxidants may change after chronic UV irradiation.