Effects of supplementary feeds with different protein levels on growth and economic performances of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) cultured in a rain-fed rice–fish ecosystem

This study investigated the effects of supplementary feeds with different crude protein (CP) levels on the growth and economic performances of sex-reversed Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared in a rain-fed rice–fish ecosystem for a period of 120 days. There were four treatments—namely, traditional feed (21% CP), formulated feed (26% CP), commercial feed (30% CP), and control (no feed was used)—with three replicates per treatment. Fish (30.04 g) were stocked in ditches at a rate of 0.5 fish m^?2 considering the total area and fed one of the tested feeds twice daily at the rate of 2%–5% of body weight. Water-quality parameters of the ditches were monitored fortnightly, and these parameters were found suitable for fish farming. Organic matter, total nitrogen, and available phosphorous in soil were increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the feed treatments after fish cultivation. Highly significant weight gain and SGR were observed with fish fed the commercial feed as compared with other treatments. The highest benefit-cost ratio (2.15) was found in the control, followed by formulated feed (1.90), but in the case of numerical net return, it was the opposite. However, commercial feed showed the lowest benefit-cost ratio (1.67) due to higher feed cost than other supplementary feeds. Therefore, this study suggests that fish fed with a formulated feed (26% CP) produced significantly higher net economic return in the rice–fish farming system.     

Bioenergetics of cannibalism in juvenile barramundi Lates calcarifer (Bloch): exploring growth advantage of fish fed live prey and formulated diet

The present study investigated the growth performance of juvenile barramundi Lates calcarifer (Bloch) fed conspecific prey (CP), formulated diet (FD) and a mix of both (MIX) using a bioenergetics approach. Fish in the MIX treatment ingested significantly more CP than FD by dry mass. However, prey mass ingestion and cannibalism rate in the MIX treatment were significantly lower than in the CP treatment. This indicates that the provision of alternative food does not complete mitigate cannibalism, but it can significantly reduce cannibalism in barramundi. Fish in the FD treatment showed a significantly higher daily food intake than fish in the CP or MIX treatments. However, fish fed conspecifics showed significantly better feed conversion efficiencies, apparent digestibility rates and growth performances. Exclusive cannibalistic barramundi assimilated significantly more energy consumed, with 1.5% of energy lost in faeces comparing with 7.3% of siblings feeding exclusively on FD. Consequently, exclusive cannibals channelized more energy consumption into growth (57.1%) than those fed solely on FD (43.9%). Therefore, high energy allocation into growth promoted better feed conversion efficiency and growth performance of cannibalistic barramundi than siblings fed solely on FDs. This study implies that fast‐growing cannibals may continuously prey on slow‐growing conspecifics due to growth advantage through cannibalism. Therefore, size heterogeneity should be reduced at initial stocking and controlled as fish grow to avoid the emergence of new cannibals.     

投喂不同饵料对长薄鳅生长的影响

在水温18.6～21.6℃条件下,将初始体质量为(3.91±0.22) g的长薄鳅幼鱼随机分为5组,每组3个重复,每个重复10尾鱼,饲养在圆形玻纤缸(直径1 m、高0.8 m)中,分别投喂刀额新对虾、鳙鱼、配合饲料(粗蛋白≥46.0%)、虾+饲料、鱼+饲料5种饵料,以筛选适宜于长薄鳅幼鱼的适宜饵料投喂模式。75 d的饲养结果表明,不同投喂模式对长薄鳅的存活率无显著性影响(P>0.05),而对长薄鳅的生长影响显著(P<0.05)。试验结果表明,虾组、鱼组、饲料组、鱼+饲料组的长薄鳅最终体质量无显著性差异(P>0.05),但虾+饲料组最终体质量和体质量特定生长率显著高于其他4组(P<0.05),依次为虾+饲料组>饲料组>虾组>鱼组、鱼+饲料组。5个试验组鱼的体长特定生长率无显著性差异(P>0.05),依次为虾+饲料组>虾组>饲料组、鱼+饲料组>鱼组。试验结束时,各试验组鱼的生长离散均有所升高,生长离散变化依次为鱼组>鱼+饲料组>饲料组>虾组>虾+饲料组。各试验组长薄鳅的的摄食率差异显著(P<0.05),摄食率依次为鱼组>虾组>鱼+饲料组>虾+饲料组>饲料组;虾组和鱼组的饵料系数无显著性差异(P>0.05),但显著高于其他3组(P<0.05),其他3组间无显著性差异(P>0.05)。不同投喂模式下长薄鳅幼鱼的生长系数b值均小于3,呈负异速生长,但虾+饲料组的长薄鳅幼鱼生长系数b值最大。试验过程中各组鱼的肥满度均下降。研究结果显示,在本试验的不同饵料投喂模式中,投喂虾+饲料更利于长薄鳅的摄食和生长。     

Interactive effects of dietary protein and live bakery yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae on growth performance of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.) fry and their challenge against Aeromonas hydrophila infection

Yeasts used as a probiotic in fish diets could stimulate fish resistance against bacterial infection and could enhance the activities of digestive enzymes in fish guts. In addition to yeast importance, dietary protein is another important part in fish diets that should be carefully optimized to meet fish requirement. It is proposed that the yeast supplementation may enhance the dietary protein turnover and reduce the protein requirement for fish. Therefore, the interactive effects of dietary protein and yeast levels on the growth performance of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.) fry and their challenge against Aeromonas hydrophila infection was evaluated. In the present study, ten experimental diets were formulated to contain either 35% or 45% crude protein (CP). For each protein level treatment, bakery yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) was supplemented at 0.0, 0.50, 1.0, 2.0, or 5.0 g/kg diet. Fish (0.25–0.48 g) were distributed at a rate of 25 fish per 140-L aquarium. For each diet, triplicate aquaria were fed twice a day, 5 days a week for 12 weeks. Fish growth and feed utilization were significantly affected by either dietary protein or yeast levels alone, while no significant effect of their interaction was observed. The highest fish growth was obtained at 1.0–5.0 g yeast/kg diet at both protein levels; however, the fish performance at 45% CP was better than that fed on 35% CP diets. The optimum feed conversion ratio (FCR) was obtained when fish fed on 1.0–5.0 and 2.0–5.0 g yeast/kg diet at 35 and 45% CP, respectively. The cumulative fish mortality, after interperitoneal injection with A. hydrophila for 10 days, and bactericidal activity was significantly higher in fish fed 35% CP diets than those fed 45% CP diets. Both variables decreased significantly with the increase in yeast levels. The lowest bacterial count and bactericidal activity were obtained in fish fed 5.0 g yeast/kg diet irrespective to dietary protein levels. It could be concluded that the inclusion of live bakery yeast in practical diets could improve the growth performances, feed utilization, and physiological status of Nile tilapia fry and their challenge against A. hydrophila infection. Moreover, fish performance when fed 45% CP diet was better than those fed 35% CP diet. Based on these results, the most suitable yeast level for maximum Nile tilapia growth was determined to be 2.0 g yeast/kg diet with 45% CP diet; however, this level was recommended to stimulate their productive performance and enhances their resistance against A. hydrophila infection.     

Fine tuning of feeding practices for hatchery produced Persian sturgeon,Acipenser persicus and Beluga sturgeon,Huso huso

In this work, we investigated the effects of various feeding treatments on the survival and growth of Huso huso and Acipenser persicus larvae during a 20‐day culture period. Three replicate groups (250 fish/replicate) of first‐feeding larvae were fed according to four main feeding regimes: (1) live food (live nauplii of brine shrimp Artemia urmiana); (2) indirect transition (5–7 days live food followed by gradual transition to formulated diet); (3) direct transition (using different combinations of live and formulated diet from the start feeding onwards); and (4) formulated feed (FD) from the start of feeding. In H. huso larvae, combining live food and manufactured diets (co‐feeding) from the first feeding stage onwards (direct transition) resulted in significantly higher weight gain than the other regimes. Survival was significantly higher in H. huso larvae fed solely live food or the direct transition regimes compared with indirect transition and FD. In A. persicus larvae, growth and survival were higher in the indirect transition feeding regime than in the other regimes. On the basis of the results of this study, we recommend co‐feeding of H. huso immediately from the commencement of exogenous feeding, but co‐feeding of A. persicus should start 7 days after prior feeding with live food.     

Dietary protein requirement of juvenile kelp grouper (Epinephelus moara)

Dietary protein requirement of juvenile kelp grouper Epinephelus moara was investigated through a feeding trial. Experimental diets with graded crude protein (CP) levels (33.01%, 38.54%, 45.21%, 50.71%, 56.10% and 63.09% of dry matter respectively) were formulated. Six triplicate groups of fish (20 individuals per replicate with initial mean weight 6.00 g) were fed with each diet for 8 weeks. Best growth performance of fish was detected in 56.10% CP diet. The specific growth rate (SGR) significantly elevated with increasing dietary CP level to 50.71%, but there was no significant difference thereafter (p < .05). The feed conversion ratio (FCR) decreased significantly with dietary CP levels from 33.01% to 56.10% (p < .05). Glucose (GLU) and total protein (TP) concentrations in plasma had an increasing trend with dietary protein increasing. In the 33.01% CP group, plasma triglyceride (TG) content was significantly higher (1.67 mmol/L) than that in other dietary treatments (0.65–1.14 mmol/L). The lowest alanine transaminase (ALT) activity was observed in the 56.10% CP group (163.16 U/L). Crude lipid content in the muscle and liver was significantly elevated with increasing dietary protein levels (p < .05). The glycogen content in the liver decreased significantly as CP levels increased (p < .05). The fish fed diet with higher CP level (56.10% and 63.09%) had significantly higher energy retention (ER) and lipid retention (LR) than other treatments. Based on the broken‐line regression analysis of SGR and FCR, the optimal dietary protein requirement for juvenile kelp grouper is 54.61%–56.22%.     

Evaluation of optimum dietary protein-to-energy ratio in juvenile olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus (Temminck et Schlegel)

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to estimate the optimum dietary protein to energy (P/E) ratio in juvenile olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. Eight experimental diets were formulated with two energy levels and four protein levels at each energy level. Two energy levels of 12.5 and 16.7 kJ g^?1 diets were included at crude protein (CP) levels of 25%, 30%, 35% and 45% with 12.5 kJ g^?1, and CP levels of 35%, 45%, 50% and 60% with 16.7 kJ g^?1. After 1 week of the conditioning period, fish initially averaging 8.1±0.08 g (mean±SD) were randomly distributed into the aquarium as groups of 15 fish. Each diet was fed on a dry‐matter basis to fish in three randomly selected aquariums at a rate of 3–5% of total wet body weight per day for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks of the feeding trial, weight gain (WG), feed efficiency ratio and specific growth rate of fish fed 45% CP with 16.7 kJ g^?1 energy diet were significantly higher than those from the other dietary treatments (P<0.05). WG of fish fed 12.5 kJ g^?1 energy diets increased with the increase of dietary protein levels. However, WG of fish fed 16.7 kJ g^?1 energy diets increased with the increase of dietary protein levels up to 45% CP and then decreased when fish fed 50% and 60% CP diets. Both dietary protein and energy affected protein retention efficiency and energy retention efficiency. Haemoglobin (Hb) of fish fed 35% and 45% CP diets with 12.5 kJ g^?1 energy were significantly high and not different from Hb of fish fed 45% and 50% CP diets with 16.7 kJ g^?1 energy. Haematocrit of fish fed 45% CP diet with 16.7 kJ g^?1 energy was significantly higher than those from fish fed 25% and 30% CP diets with 12.5 kJ g^?1 energy (P< 0.05). Based on the results of this experiment, we concluded that the optimum dietary P/E ratio was 27.5 mg protein kJ^?1 with diet containing 45% CP and 16.7 kJ g^?1 energy in juvenile olive flounder.     

Effect of dietary protein regime during the growing period on growth performance, feed utilization and whole-body chemical composition of Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.)

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of various dietary protein regimes on growth performance, feed utilization and whole-body chemical composition of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.). Twenty cages (1 m³ each) were randomly allocated to a four-replicate experiment to represent five treatments (T1–T5) where fish were randomly stocked at a rate of 50 fish (1.5–2.2 g) per cage. Fish in T1–T5 fed on a 45% crude protein (CP) diet for the first 4 weeks. In T1, T2 or T3 fish fed on 45%, 35% or 25% CP diets for the last 8 weeks respectively. In T4 fish fed 35% CP diet for the second 4 weeks followed by 25% CP diet for the last 4 weeks and in T5 fish fed 25% CP diet for the second 4 weeks followed by 35% CP diet for the last 4 weeks. Diets were offered to satiation and provided manually twice a day in the morning and in the afternoon, 6 days a week. The optimum fish growth and feed utilization were obtained at T1, T2 and T4. Protein efficient ratio and apparent protein utilization were lower at T1 and T2 than those of T3–T5. On the other hand, no significant changes in energy utilization were observed among the different treatments. There were no major changes in the carcass composition except in ash content, which was higher in T3 and T5 only. This study recommended that the dietary protein regime is an important management in tilapia culture, and the protein level could be reduced from 45% to 35% then to 25% on increasing the fish size.     

Evaluation of the Ability of GroBiotic®‐A to Enhance Growth,Muscle Composition,Immune Responses,and Resistance Against Aeromonas hydrophila in Nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus

This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of graded levels of GroBiotic^®‐A to improve performance of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, fed a 29% crude protein (CP) diet. A 29% CP diet was formulated and supplemented with 0, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.2% GroBiotic^®‐A and compared to performance of fish fed a 33% CP diet. Enhanced weight gain and feed efficiency were generally observed in fish fed the diets supplemented with GroBiotic^®‐A compared to the 29% CP diet. No significant differences in these responses were observed between fish fed diets supplemented with GroBiotic^®‐A compared to those fed the 33% CP diet. Supplementation of 0.8 and 1.2% GroBiotic^®‐A induced significantly lower condition factor and hepatosomatic index compared to fish fed the 29% CP diet, but those values were similar to that of fish fed the 33% CP diet. GroBiotic^®‐A supplementation and protein reduction had no effect on the viscerosomatic index of fish or moisture, lipid, and protein content of muscle samples. However, muscle ash increased significantly with protein reduction (29% CP diet), but GroBiotic^®‐A supplementation (0.8 and 1.2%) reduced muscle ash content. Activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase were markedly reduced in fish fed GroBiotic^®‐A (0.8 and 1.2%) compared to those fed the control diet. GroBiotic^®‐A supplementation also induced significantly higher neutrophil oxidative radical production compared to fish fed the 29% CP diet, but no significant difference was observed in comparison with the 33% CP diet. After 8 wk of feeding, exposure to Aeromonas hydrophila for 3 wk resulted in 40% (0.4, 0.8% GroBiotic^®‐A) and 27% (1.2% GroBiotic^®‐A) mortality and reduced signs of disease, while 47% mortality was observed in fish fed the 29% CP diet. Based on the result of this study, it is concluded that 0.8 and 1.2% GroBiotic^®‐A positively influenced growth performance and feed efficiency of tilapia fed diets containing 29% crude protein to levels comparable to fish fed the 33% CP diet. GroBiotic^®‐A supplementation also significantly increased neutrophil oxidative radical production as well as resistance to Ae. hydrophila infection.     

Growth and Feed Utilization of Captive Wild Subadult Black Sea Bass Centropristis striata Fed Practical Diets in a Recirculating System

The effects of four practical diets on growth, feed utilization, and body composition of wild‐caught juvenile and subadult black sea bass Centropristis striata (316 ± 113 g =±± SD) were compared for 221 d in a recirculating tank system consisting of 12 2,660‐L tanks. Salinity averaged 33.5 ppt and temperature averaged 20.9 C but vaned from 12 to 27.1 C. Diets differed in crude protein (CP) and crude lipid (CL) as follows: 1) low CP (44.0%), low CL (11.4%) trout diet; 2) low CP (44.8%), high CL (15.0%) trout diet; 3) midlevel CP (47.9%), midlevel CL (12.8%) Bounder diet; and 4) high CP (53.9%), high CL (15.1%) marine finfish diet. Energy: protein ratios (E: P) were 44.6, 45.3, 41.8, and 39.1 W/g. Survival to 221 d on all diets was 100%. Significant (P < 0.05) differences in growth rates were observed among diets. Final weights were higher for midlevel and high CP diets 3 and 4 (1,051 and 1,013 g) than for low CP diet 1 (873 g). Relative growth rate (RGR, % total increase in weight), specific growth rate (SGR, % increase in body weight/d), and daily weight gain (DWG, g/d) were higher for higher CP diets 3 and 4 (RGR = 223 and 221; SGR = 0.53; DWG = 3.28 and 3.16), than for low CP diet 1 (RGR = 181; SGR = 0.47; DWG = 2.54). There were no significant differences between initial and final whole body protein and fiber content among diets. Lipid and gross energy levels significantly increased (P < 0.0001) in all treatments while moisture levels significantly decreased (P < 0.001). Although these differences were not significant, feed conversion ratio (FCR = dry weight fed/wet weight gain) was lower for fish given midlevel CP diet 3 (1.49) and high CP diet 4 (1.52) than for those fed low CP diets 1 and 2 (1.60 and 1.62). Protein efficiency ratios (PER = weight gain/weight protein fed) (1.43 to 1.24), apparent net protein retention (ANPR = weight protein gain/weight protein fed) (20 to 25%), and apparent net energy retention (ANER = energy gain/energy fed) (53.3 to 56.8%) were not significantly different among treatments. The midlevel CP (50%), midlevel CL (12%) diet maximized growth rates and was also significantly less expensive per kg fish weight produced ($1.40) than the high CP diet ($1.94) which produced the second highest growth rates. These results demonstrated that wild‐caught black sea bass can be successfully reared in recirculating tanks from juvenile to marketable sizes with high survival and with good feed conversion and growth on commercially prepared diets with a wide range of protein and lipid levels.     

Evaluation of soybean meal in the formulated diets for juvenile Pangasianodon hypophthalmus (Sauvage, 1878)

The influence of soybean meal (SBM) on the growth and feed utilization of juvenile sutchi catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus, Sauvage, 1878) was investigated. Eight isonitrogenous (300 g kg^?1 CP) and isoenergetic (18 MJ kg^?1) diets were formulated incorporating Argentine SBM to replace fish meal at 0, 150, 300, 450, 600, 750, 900 and 1000 g kg^?1 dietary protein. Each diet was fed to three replicate groups of fish with an initial weight 6.0–6.2 g for twelve weeks. Growth performance decreased, and feed utilization was worsened with the increase in SBM inclusion in the diets. Final weight and relative growth rate (RGR) of fish fed control diet (0 SBM) were significantly higher than those fed test diets (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the final weight and RGR between the fish fed on 15 SBM, 30 SBM, 45 SBM and 60 SBM diets. Specific growth rate of fish fed 0 SBM, 15 SBM, 30 SBM and 45 SBM diets was significantly higher than those fed other diets. Feed conversion ratio of fish fed 0 SBM, 15 SBM, 30 SBM, 45 SBM and 60 SBM diets was significantly lower than those fed other diets (P < 0.05). The dry matter and protein digestibility were lesser in all the diets in comparison with the control diet. Hepatosomatic index and viscerosomatic index increased with increasing SBM in diet. This present trial indicated that fish meal can be replaced by SBM in the diet of juvenile sutchi catfish only up to 45% of fish meal protein without any adverse effect on growth, feed utilization and body composition.     

Effect of Different Dietary Protein and Lipid Levels on Growth Performance and Body Composition of Juvenile Southern Flounder,Paralichthys lethostigma,Reared in a Recirculating Aquaculture System

The effects of six formulated diets containing different protein and lipid levels on growth performance and body composition of juvenile southern flounder were evaluated. Test diets were prepared with a combination of three crude protein (CP) levels (45, 50 and 55%) and two crude lipid (CL) levels (10 and 15%). Diets (CP/CL) were as follows: 45/10, 45/15, 50/10, 50/15, 55/10, 55/15 and a commercial diet (50/15). Southern flounder (1.10 g) were fed the respective diets for 42 d in triplicate recirculating tanks (20 fish/tank). Percent body weight gain (BWG) for fish fed diet 45/10 (413%) and the commercial diet (426%) were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than fish fed other diets (823–837%). Increasing protein level from 45 to 50% produced a significant increase in BWG for the 10% lipid diet (823%) but further increasing protein did not produce a significant effect on BWG irrespective of dietary lipid levels. Specific growth rate (SGR), feed intake, feed conversion efficiency (FCE), protein efficiency ratio (PER), and total lipid content in the whole body were significantly affected by different dietary protein and lipid levels. Results indicated that a combination of 50% protein and 10% lipid was optimal for the growth performance of southern flounder juveniles.     

Nitrogen and phosphorus digestibility and excretion of different-sized groups of milkfish (Chanos chanos Forsskal) fed formulated and natural food-based diets

This study determined the digestibility of nitrogen and phosphorus, and the excretion rate of different‐sized groups of milkfish fed a commercial diet, a SEAFDEC formulated diet or lab‐lab (natural food‐based diet). Fish (31.2–263.0 g) were stocked in 12 units of 300‐L fibreglass tanks filled with aerated seawater. The postprandial total ammonia‐nitrogen (TAN) and phosphate (PO₄‐P) excretion of fish were estimated from changes in TAN and PO₄‐P concentrations in water for 24 h. Digestibility was determined from the nitrogen, phosphorus and Cr₂O₃ content of the diets, and pooled faeces after the fish had been fed diets marked with chromic oxide. TAN excretion rate (mg TAN kg^?1 fish day^?1) was significantly lowest (P < 0.05) in medium to very big fish fed the lab‐lab diet (60.8–124.4) and highest in small and medium fish fed the SEAFDEC diet (333.3–331.6) and small fish fed the commercial diet (280.1). Regardless of size, fish fed lab‐lab excreted (mg PO₄‐P kg^?1 fish day^?1) significantly lower PO₄‐P (36.2) but did not differ with fish fed the commercial diet (64.8). Excretion rates decreased exponentially as fish weight increased but positively increased with feed ration. Excretion pattern of milkfish revealed two peaks: the first peak occurred 6 h after feeding and the second peak at 18 h for TAN and 21 h for PO₄‐P, coinciding with the start of the daylight hours. TAN and PO₄‐P excretion accounted for 20.5–34.6% of total N consumed and 18.7–42.6% of P consumed respectively. Approximately 27.9–42.5% of N consumed and 47.2–58.5% of P consumed were lost as faeces. Total nutrient losses were lower using the lab‐lab diet (0.31 g N and 0.14 g P kg^?1 fish) compared with the formulated diets (0.47–0.48 g N and 0.17–0.19 g P kg^?1 fish); the losses decreased per kg of fish as fish size increased. Results suggest that the diet and size of fish influence wastage of N and P to the environment with greater losses in small fish and when artificial diets are used. Such measurements will provide valuable information for the preparation of N and P budgets for milkfish in grow‐out systems.     

不同饵料比对黄鳝生长及生理生化指标的影响

以冰鲜鱼与配合饲料5个不同比例饵料饲养黄鳝(Monopterus albus)14周,设定配合饲料所占比例分别为0％、25％、50％、75％、90％,研究不同饵料比处理对黄鳝生长、体成分及部分血清生理生化指标的影响.结果显示,各处理组黄鳝增重率、成活率均无显著差异(P＞0.05);粗蛋白及粗脂肪含量随饵料中配合饲料比例增大呈先升高、后降低的趋势,且均以90％配合饲料组最低;而各组体灰分和水分差异不显著(P＞0.05);各处理组黄鳝的血清谷草转氨酶(GOT)、谷丙转氨酶(GPT)、甘油三酯、总胆固醇及血糖有显著差异(P＜0.05);与完全投喂冰鲜鱼(0％组)相比,其它各处理组血清GOT和GPT显著降低;75％配合饲料组血清GOT、GPT(50％组除外)、总胆固醇均为所有处理组最低;表明黄鳝投喂以25％冰鲜鱼和75％配合饲料的混合饵料为宜.     

Influence of pond fertilization and feeding rate on growth performance, economic returns and water quality in a small-scale cage-cum-pond integrated system for production of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.)

The effects of pond fertilization and feeding rate on growth, economic returns and water quality were investigated to develop a low‐cost cage‐cum‐pond integrated system for production of Oreochromis niloticus (L.). Hand‐sexed male fingerlings averaging 19±0.39 and 32±0.69 g were stocked in cages and open ponds at 150 fish cage^?1 and 2 fish m^?2 respectively. Fish were cultured for 114 days in five triplicate treatments. Cages were installed into ponds and caged fish were fed a 24% protein diet at 3% (T1) and 6% (T2) body weight day^?1 (BWD) without pond fertilization, and 6% BWD with pond fertilization (T3). The open water in the fourth treatment (T4) was not stocked but contained caged fish, which were fed 6% BWD for the first 57 days followed by 3% BWD for the remaining period. Ponds in the control (T5) had no cages and were neither fertilized nor open‐pond fish fed. Feeding rate and pond fertilization significantly (P<0.05) affected fish growth, profitability and water quality among treatments. Fish growth, feed utilization, fish yield, water quality and profits were significantly (P<0.05) better in T3 than the other treatments. It was concluded that fish production and economic returns were optimized at 6% BWD in fertilized ponds.     

Relative contribution of alternative proteins to the growth of Juvenile Cobia,Rachycentron canadum (Linnaeus)

Five isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets were fed to juvenile cobia, to assess the relative contribution of different proteins (fish meal, soybean meal, corn gluten and beer yeast) to the growth of cobia. The dietary effects on nitrogen and carbon turnover and on the isotopic diet‐consumer discrimination factors (Δ¹⁵N and Δ¹³C) were also assessed. Growth results showed that the final body weight, growth rate, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio of cobia fed diets with alternative protein were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than cobia fed diet formulated with 100% fish meal. The estimated half‐lives of nitrogen and carbon ranged between 9–11 days and 6–8 days, respectively, with significant differences among treatments (P < 0.05). Δ¹⁵N ranged between 0.0–1.2‰ and ?0.1–1.6‰ in whole fish and muscle and Δ¹³C ranged between 3.8–5.1‰ and 4.0–5.1‰ in whole fish and muscle respectively. Diets were formulated with low levels of dietary nitrogen (10%) supplied by alternative protein sources substituting fish meal. The relative contributions of the dietary nitrogen supplied from these sources to the growth of whole fish and muscle tissue ranged between 4.9–5.2% and 5.9–7.7% respectively. Results indicated that growth accounted for the majority of observed isotopic change in animals under all treatments. In whole animals and muscle tissue, isotopic change due to metabolism occurred faster for carbon stable isotopes than for nitrogen stable isotopes. Cobia fed diets formulated with alternative proteins showed reduced nitrogen turnover rate and increased Δ¹⁵N.     

Diet and water temperature affect growth and body deformities in juvenile tench Tinca tinca (L.) reared under controlled conditions

The experiment was designed to determine the combined effect of fish diet and water temperature on juvenile tench Tinca tinca (L.). Three diets were used: commercial dry diet for fish Aller Futura (diet F); frozen Chironomidae larvae (diet C); and Aller Futura substituted with Chironomidae at a ratio of 3:2 (dry weight; diet FC). Daily food rations and duration of the experiment were adjusted to temperatures of 20°C, 23°C and 26°C based on a correction factor q equal to 1.000, 0.779 and 0.609 respectively. The experiment lasted 92, 72 and 56 days for the respective temperatures. No mortality occurred. The highest relative growth rates were found at 26°C in diets F and FC. The lowest food conversion ratio of 1.12–1.22 (recalculated for dry weight of feed diet) was determined in fish fed diet F at 23°C and 26°C. A high value of condition index appeared to be the early warning of decreasing biological quality of fish and deformities. The lowest incidence of fish with deformities (IDef) was found in groups fed diet C (<1%), while the highest (90%) in fish fed diet F at 26°C. A lower share of dry diet in the fish food and a lower water temperature led to a lower IDef. Thus, amount of dry feed in fish diet was the major factor inducing body deformities, while water temperature only modified the effects of the dietary factor. Diet C at 23–26°C was the most cost‐effective of the tested combinations of diet and temperature.     

Evaluation of Experimental and Practical Diets for Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus and Hybrid Bluegill L. cyanellus × L. macrochirus

Two experiments were conducted to identify appropriate experimental and practical diets for bluegill Lepomis macrochirus and hybrid bluegill L. cyanellus × L. macrochirus reared in aquaria. In the first study, four experimental diets and five commercial diets were evaluated in juvenile hybrid bluegill initially weighing 4.8 g/fish. The experimental diets contained casein (CAS), casein + gelatin (CAWGEL), casein + L‐arginine‐HCI (CAS/ARG), or casein + gelatin + crystalline amino acids (CAS/AA) as sources of crude protein. The commercial diets included three diets formulated to meet the nutritional requirements of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and two diets formulated to meet the nutritional requirements of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus. Each diet was fed twice daily at a rate of 4% of body weigh/d to triplicate groups of fish. At the end of the 8‐wk feeding trial, weight gain was significantly higher in fish fed the best commercial rainbow trout diets (205–217%) compared to fish fed diets formulated for channel catfish (87–104%). Weight gain and feed efficiency (FE) of fish fed the experimental diets (5346% and 0.19–0.32, respectively) were significantly lower than those of fish fed the commercial rainbow trout diets (143–217% and 0.49–0.64, respectively). In the second experiment, the same dietary treatments were fed for 8 wk to juvenile bluegill initially weighing 3.7 g/fish. Each diet was fed twice daily at a rate of 4% of body weight/d to triplicate groups of fish. Weight gain was significantly higher in fish fed commercial trout diets (291–402%) compared to fish fed diets formulated for channel catfish (164–191%). Weight gain and FE of fish fed CAS/ARG were significantly higher than those of fish fed the commercial catfish diets, but significantly lower than those of fish fed the best commercial trout diets. Results of this study indicate that commercial rainbow trout diets are preferable to commercial channel catfish diets for culture of bluegill and hybrid bluegill. More research is needed to identify appropriate experimental diets for this group of fishes.     

Haemoglobin powder as a dietary fish meal replacer in juvenile Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica (Temminck et Schlegel)

Two consecutive 6-week feeding trials were conducted to determine the amount of haemoglobin powder (BM) that could replace fish meal (FM) in juvenile Japanese eel Anguilla japonica (Temminck et Schlegel) diets. Fish were fed 50% crude protein diets in which each of ten isonitrogenous diets was formulated to contain white fish meal and/or blood meal as the dietary protein source to replace FM by BM as follows: Diet 1 (control), 0% BM; diet 2,12.5% BM; diet 3,25% BM; diet 4, 50% BM; diet 5, 75% BM; diet6,100%BM;diet7,25%BM + 3 Essential Amino Acids (EAA); diet 8, 50% BM + 3 EAA; diet 9, 75% BM + 3 EAA; diet 10, 100 BM + 3 EAA. In the first 6-week period, the results were not consistent with the treatments, and poor adaptation of the fish to the experimental diets and conditions was observed. In the second 6-week period, weight gain, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio and protein productive value offish fed diets 2, 3, 4, 7, 8 and 9 were not significantly different from those of fish fed the control diet (P > 0.05). However, feed conversion ratios offish fed diets 6 and 10 were lower than that offish fed the control diet (P < 0.05). These results demonstrate that FM can be replaced by BM up to 50% without supplementation of three EAA, and up to 75% with three EAA supplementation in juvenile Japanese eel diets.     

Evaluation of recycled food waste as a partial replacement of fishmeal in diets for the initial feeding of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

A 70-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the suitability of recycled food wastes [food industry waste (FIW) and soy sauce waste (SSW)] as protein sources in the diet of Oreochromis niloticus fry. Diets were formulated that contained 0 and 20–22%, respectively, recycled food wastes, namely D1 (0% recycled food waste), D2 (20% FIW), D3 (10% FIW and SSW, respectively), D4 (20% FIW and tryptophan), and D5 (22% SSW). Although feed efficiency, net protein retention, and protein efficiency were not significantly different among fish on the different diets (p > 0.05), those on D3 had a better growth performance than the controls (D1). Fish fed diet D4 (tryptophan supplement) had a higher final weight gain than those fed D2, in addition to the other growth parameters, but these differences were not significant (p > 0.05), with the exception of total feed intake. D1 produced fish with higher carcass protein, while fish fed on D3 had the highest lipid content. There was no significant difference between groups in terms of carcass moisture and ash contents. These findings show that the proper combination of recycled food waste is suitable for use in the production of fish feed and may ultimately result in reductions in the level of fishmeal in aquafeeds.