Sterol requirement of juvenile lobsters, Homarus sp.

Juvenile lobsters were fed purified or unrefined diets in which the qualitative and quantitative sterol composition varied. Dietary cholesterol was required. A level of dietary cholesterol as low as 0.12% (dry weight) in a purified diet was satisfactory for normal growth and survival. No significant increases in growth were observed when lobsters were fed unrefined diets with cholesterol levels ranging from 0.19 to 0.59% (dry weight). Total cholesterol content of the whole body tissue lipid ranged from 0.012 to 0.046% (wet weight), lowest values being characteristically associated with those animals fed purified diets virtually devoid of cholesterol. Serum sterol levels were similar except for reduced levels associated with the sterol-free diet.Total replacement of cholesterol with a mixture of phytosterols composed primarily of β-sitosterol did not yield good growth and survival. Phytosterols composed large proportions of the total body sterols of those lobsters fed diets containing phytosterols exclusively. At least a portion and possibly all of the sterol requirement of juvenile lobsters is specific for cholesterol.     

Effects of dietary carbohydrate on growth of juvenile New Zealand rock lobsters, Jasus edwardsii

The commercial aquaculture of spiny lobsters is impeded by the development of effective practical diets, which is partly due to a lack of knowledge of the digestive capabilities and nutritional needs of these species. Carbohydrates have the potential to provide a low cost energy source in practical diets for spiny lobsters. This research investigated the effect of algal carbohydrates, on the growth of juvenile rock lobsters. Juvenile lobsters, Jasus edwardsii, (10-12 mm carapace length) were provided with one of five diets; blue mussel, squid (Nototodarus gouldii), or a mussel diet partially substituted with algal carbohydrates, either agar, carrageenan or alginate over 80 days in culture. In all treatments, diet consumption and lobster growth were maintained or increased over time. Growth was highest for the mussel diet followed by the agar diet. Similar lobster growth occurred on the carrageenan and alginate diets, with the least on the squid diet. After 80 d there were significant differences in the percent lipid and glycogen stored in the mid-gut gland with highest levels of glycogen in lobsters fed the mussel only diet. Percent protein in the tail muscle was greatest for mussel fed lobsters. The mid-gut index (mid-gut weight/whole wet weight) was highest for the mussel only diet and this was similar to control lobsters at the start of the experiment. The results indicate that glycogen from mussels and agar could be used as carbohydrate source in the future development of a practical diet for spiny lobsters.     

Evaluation of Commercial Shrimp Grow-Out Pellets as Diets for Juvenile Southern Rock Lobster,Jasus edwardsii

Abstract

The growth, survival, and biochemical composition of juvenile southern rock lobster, Jasus edwardsii, were examined in response to a variety of diets, consisting of a natural food organism (blue mussel, Mytilus edulis) and/or commercial shrimp pellets. Blue mussel supported significantly better (a minimum of 25% higher) growth than a range of shrimp diets. Diet intake (0.83-1.26% wet body weight/day) and feed conversion ratio (1.34-2.48) with the formulated diets were generally similar to that with blue mussel (1.03% wet body weight/day; 1.55 feed conversion ratio). Changes in the chemical composition of southern rock lobsters due to treatments were more clearly observed in the digestive gland than in the whole body. Carapace color and tissue carotenoid level varied significantly with carotenoid content of the diets. A caro-tenoid level of 115 mg/kg is required in formulated diets to produce southern rock lobsters of similar color to wild-caught juveniles. In a separate experiment, a blue mussel diet was compared to mixed diets comprised of blue mussel and a shrimp, Penaeus monodon, diet. In the mixed diets, blue mussel was replaced with the formulated diet for either ×days/week or 6 days/week. Growth and survival did not differ significantly among treatments. The use of formulated diets in the culture of southern rock lobster appears feasible but will require increased knowledge of the nutritional requirements. Until specific diets are developed, this study has shown that similar growth can be obtained from a mixed diet, consisting primarily of a cheap formulated diet supplemented with blue mussel once per week. Such a scenario offers real possibilities for significantly reducing the cost of southern rock lobster production.     

Review of molluscan bivalve condition index calculations and application in Northern Quahogs Mercenaria mercenaria

Condition index (CI) is a widely used parameter in ecological and physiological studies. For molluscan bivalves, no universal consensus exists for CI calculation. A literature review revealed that a total of 19 methods have been used for CI calculation in molluscan bivalves. To evaluate the CI calculation in northern quahogs Mercenaria mercenaria (also called hard clams), market‐sized clams at 12–14 months old (n = 300 from three populations) were collected for gravimetrical and volumetric measurements. Significant correlations were identified among body sizes (body length, height and width), body weights (total weight, wet meat weight, dry meat weight, wet shell weight, dry shell weight) and body volume (p < .0001, R values ≥ .800). Referencing previously used CI equations for molluscan bivalves, a total of 18 equations were evaluated the suitability, considering non‐lethal measurements, for northern quahogs through correlation analysis of the CIs from different equations. With equations constructed as the percentages of dry or wet meat weight out of total weight, dry shell weight, dry shell plus meat weight, body volume, body length*height*width, shell length or cubic of shell length, CIs were significantly correlated, meaning that these equations were exchangeable. Specifically, three equations with non‐lethal measurements (percentages of total body weight out of total body volume, body length*height*width or cubic of body length) were evaluated effective. Overall, this publication provided a review for CI calculations in molluscan bivalves and evaluated the CI equations for northern quahogs.     

Survival and growth of western rock lobster Panulirus cygnus (George) fed formulated diets with and without fresh mussel supplement

Two trials were conducted to compare the growth and survival of western rock lobster Panulirus cygnus post-pueruli and year 1 juveniles fed different diets. Trial 1 compared lobsters fed a formulated pelletised feed developed for Panulirus ornatus supplemented with fresh mussels (Mytilus edulis) two days per week, with lobsters fed a daily diet of pellets. Trial 2 compared lobsters fed the pellet-mussel supplement diet with those fed a daily diet of fresh mussels.In the first trial, diet treatment did not significantly affect survival, although it was higher in tanks supplemented with mussels. Growth of post-pueruli and year 1 juveniles fed the pellet diet (0.03 g/day; 0.14 g/day, respectively) was significantly lower than growth of post-pueruli and year 1 juveniles fed pellet-mussel supplement diets (0.07 g/day; 0.2 g/day, respectively). Year 1 lobsters fed the pellet-mussel supplement diet consumed considerably less pellet (0.27 vs 0.40 g pellet dry matter/day (DM/day)) than those fed pellets indicating that they will preferentially favour mussel over pellet diets. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly better for lobsters fed the pellet-mussel supplement diet as a result of the poor growth of pellet-fed lobsters.In the second trial, survival was significantly higher for lobsters fed mussels only. Growth of post-pueruli fed a mussel diet (0.14 g/day) was significantly higher than those fed pellet-mussel diets (0.11 g/day), but there was no significant difference in growth for year 1 juveniles (0.33 g/day). Feed intake of mussel on a dry matter basis was higher than pellet intake for both size classes, with mussel intake being more than double pellet intake for post-pueruli (0.20 vs 0.49 g DM/day).Poor growth of P. cygnus on a pellet only diet indicates that the current formulation for P. ornatus may be inadequate for P. cygnus. However, as pellet intake declined dramatically for year 1 lobsters offered a mussel supplement, and pellet consumption was significantly lower than mussel consumption, it is more likely that poor growth may be attributed to inadequate palatability and intake. The similarly good survival of lobsters fed pellet and pellet-mussel diets indicates that the pellet diet is an acceptable maintenance diet for P. cygnus, but is not suitable for maximising growth for this species. Further research is needed to improve palatability, intake and potentially nutritional composition of this pellet diet before its suitability for P. cygnus is assured.     

Length-weight relationship,muscle production and proximate composition of the freshwater crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes (Lereboullet)

Significant sexual divergence in weight occurred in a sample of 276 crayfish at body lengths greater than 60 mm. Males reached approximately 60 g and females approximately 35 g wet weight. Immature males and females did not differ significantly in weight. Abdominal muscle in larger specimens attained a maximum weight of 3.53 g and 3.78 g in males and females, respectively. Percentage contribution by abdominal muscle to total body weight was 14.43 ± 2.59% (N = 40) for males and 15.73 ± 2.16% (N = 40) for females. Up to 5.13 g of cheliped meat was produced by males but females only produced up to 2.52 g. This difference was largely responsible for the significant differences in total muscle weight expressed as a percentage of body weight between males (27.38 ± 2.36%, N = 40) and females (23.21 ± 2.08%, N = 40). However, male muscle contained significantly more water than female muscle. A new analytical scheme developed to assess crayfish muscle composition revealed a relatively low protein and high lipid content in A. pallipes but other tissue component levels were similar to those of three other marketed crayfish species.     

Optimal dietary methionine requirement of juvenile Chinese sucker,Myxocyprinus asiaticus

A total of 630 juvenile Chinese sucker, with an average initial weight of 1.72 ± 0.05 g, were fed seven diets for 56 days to study the effect of dietary methionine levels on growth, feed utilization, body composition and haematological parameters on juvenile Chinese sucker. Diet 1 using fish meal as the sole protein source and diets 2–7 using fish meal and fermented soybean meal as intact protein sources supplemented with crystalline amino acids contained six levels of l ‐methionine ranging from 6.4 to 18.9 g kg^?1 of dry diet at a constant dietary cystine level of 3.7 g kg^?1. Each diet was randomly assigned to three aquaria. Results indicated that the highest weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), feed efficiency ratio, protein efficiency ratio and protein productive value occurred at 13.9 g methionine kg^?1 diet among the methionine supplemented dietary groups, beyond which they showed declining tendency. The whole body and muscle protein contents of juvenile Chinese sucker were positively correlated with dietary methionine level, while muscle lipid content was negatively correlated with it. The total essential amino acids content of muscle was increased significantly with increasing dietary methionine level from 6.4 to 13.9 g kg^?1 (P < 0.05). Apparent digestibility coefficients of dietary protein were significantly affected by dietary treatments. Serum protein, cholesterol and triacylglycerol increased with increasing dietary methionine levels, but showed a relatively lower value for fish fed the 18.9 g methionine kg^?1 diet. Quadratic regression analysis of SGR against dietary methionine level indicated that optimal dietary methionine requirement for juvenile Chinese sucker was 14.1 g kg^?1 of the diet in the presence of 3.7 g kg^?1 cystine (corresponding to 32.0 g kg^?1 of dietary protein on a dry‐weight basis).     

饲料中添加精氨酸对仿刺参幼参生长、免疫能力及消化酶活力的影响

为研究精氨酸对仿刺参幼参生长、免疫能力及消化酶活力的影响,在基础饲料中添加0、1.00%、2.00%、3.00%和4.00%的包膜精氨酸(精氨酸含量为40%),配制精氨酸含量为0.32%、0.73%、1.16%、1.61%和1.99%的5种实验饲料(命名为D1,D2,D3,D4和D5),饲喂初始体质量9.10 g的仿刺参幼参60 d。结果表明,精氨酸显著提高了仿刺参的增重率、特定生长率和蛋白质效率,且在D4组达到最高;D3、D4和D5组仿刺参的脏壁比、肠壁比及肠长比显著低于D1和D2组,但3组之间差异不显著;精氨酸显著提高了体壁粗蛋白的沉积,但对水分及粗脂肪含量影响不显著;精氨酸显著提高了体壁谷氨酸、精氨酸、亮氨酸、组氨酸、羟脯氨酸、必需氨基酸及总氨基酸的含量,降低了赖氨酸含量;体腔液中总超氧化物歧化酶(T-SOD)、总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)、一氧化氮(NO)、一氧化氮合成酶(NOS)、碱性磷酸酶(AKP)、谷丙转氨酶(ALT)及谷草转氨酶(AST)活力随着精氨酸含量的增加而显著提高;肠道蛋白酶活力与饲料精氨酸含量呈二次负相关关系(Y酶活=-3.228X2精氨酸+2.865X精氨酸+26.24,R2=0.934),D3、D4和D5组纤维素酶活力显著高于D1和D2组,淀粉酶及脂肪酶活力不受精氨酸含量的影响。以增重率为评价指标,一元二次回归分析表明,体质量9.10 g的仿刺参饲料中精氨酸适宜含量为1.55%(7.10%饲料粗蛋白)。     

Effects of dietary carbohydrate on weight gain and gonad production in small sea urchins,Lytechinus variegatus

In experiment 1, juvenile sea urchins (n = 80, 0.088 ± 0.001 g wet weight and 5.72 ± 0.04 mm diameter) were held individually and fed ad libitum one of three semi‐purified formulated diets (n = 16 individuals treatment^?1). In the diets, protein was held constant (310 g kg^?1 dry, as fed) and carbohydrate level varied (190, 260, or 380 g kg^?1 dry, as fed). Wet weights were measured every 2 weeks. Total wet weight gain was inversely proportional to dietary carbohydrate level and energy content of the respective diet. In experiment 2, sea urchins (5.60 ± 0.48 g wet weight, n = 40) fed 190 g kg^?1 carbohydrate consumed significantly more dry feed than those fed 260 g kg^?1, but not more than those fed 380 g kg^?1 carbohydrate. Based on differential feed intake rates, sea urchins that consumed more feed also consumed higher levels of protein and had the highest weight gain. Consequently, protein content and/or protein: energy ratio may be important in determining feed utilization and growth among sea urchins in this study. The average digestible energy intake was approximately 70 kcal kg^?1 body weight day^?1, suggesting daily caloric intake of juvenile Lytechinus variegatus is lower than in shrimp and fish.     

Optimum dietary crude protein level for growth in South African abalone (Haliotis midae L.)

A 95‐day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary crude protein level on total body weight gain and protein gain of juvenile (4.89 ± 0.57 g) South African abalone (Haliotis midae). Six semi‐purified diets containing casein, fish meal and cottonseed meal as protein sources, and with crude protein levels ranging from 54.8 to 479.2 g kg^?1 dry matter (DM), were fed to four tanks containing 30 abalone each in a continuous flow system. No differences (P > 0.05) were found in moisture, ash or lipid content of soft‐body tissue as dietary crude protein level increased, indicating that differences (P < 0.05) in soft‐body protein content were solely due to dietary crude protein level. The relationships between dietary crude protein level and total body weight gain and protein gain were analysed by broken‐line and second‐order polynomial regression models. Based on total body weight gain, 358.7 g kg^?1 DM dietary protein from good quality sources is recommended for maximum growth of juvenile H. midae, while, if dietary protein is reduced to 280.7 g kg^?1 DM, growth will be depressed with 5 g kg^?1.     

An evaluation of the nutritional value of alternative lipid sources to juvenile southern rock lobster, Jasus edwardsii

Experimental lobster feeds are currently based on fish meal and fish oil formulations, and although survival and growth similar to that of lobsters fed fresh blue mussels has been achieved, varying the protein level in previous experimental feeds has not increased growth beyond that of lobsters fed natural food. This experiment assessed the growth performance of lobsters fed pelleted feeds containing constant amounts of protein, lipid and energy where the lipid was provided by a range of oil-rich ingredients (fish oil, FO; fish oil with added soybean lecithin, FOL; canola oil, CO; tuna oil, TO; mussel meal, MM; and squid meal, SQM). Feed performance was assessed by lobster growth rate, survival, final biochemical composition, nutrient retention and nutrient efficiency. Twenty tanks containing 15 post-larval lobsters each (1.5 ± 0.04 g) were randomly allocated one of six test feeds in triplicate, and the two remaining tanks were fed freshly opened blue mussels (FRM) as a reference feed. Lobsters were fed daily to excess for 10 weeks. Final individual weights of whole body and digestive gland were measured, and tissue chemical composition analysed. There were no significant differences in survival (88.4 ± 3.3%), or specific growth rate (1.3 ± 0.1%.day^− 1) among the formulated feed fed lobsters, which were significantly lower than the survival (100 ± 0.0%) and SGR (2.2 ± 0.1%.day^− 1) of FRM fed lobsters. The SQM fed lobsters had a significantly lower lipid efficiency ratio and lipid productivity value than lobsters fed TO, FOL and MM feeds. The digestive gland lipid content (g.100 g wet tissue^− 1) of lobsters fed the feeds TO (3.7 ± 0.4), FO (3.5 ± 0.3) and SQM (2.2 ± 0.2) were significantly lower than lobsters fed feeds MM (9.9 ± 1.1), FOL (9.0 ± 2.3) and FRM fed lobsters contained most digestive gland lipid (12.3 ± 1.5).     

Optimization of the stocking parameters for mud spiny lobster Panulirus polyphagus (Herbst, 1793) capture‐based aquaculture in tropical open sea floating net cages

Mud spiny lobsters, Panulirus polyphagus (Herbst, 1793), were reared at four different stocking sizes and stocking densities in open sea cages to evaluate their effects on growth performance. To evaluate the effect of stocking size on the growth performance, the lobsters were segregated into four different treatment groups according to size and were stocked at a density of 300 animals per cage. To evaluate the effect of stocking density on the growth performance, lobsters of 81–100 g were stocked in four different stocking densities, i.e. 16/m², 24/m², 32/m² and 40/m². The results showed that the growth rate of (60–80 g) size group, was significantly higher compared to the size groups, i.e. 101–120 g and 121–140 g comprising of larger individuals. The final body weight, though significantly higher in 81–100 g as compared to 60–80 g, the growth performance (i.e. weight gain percentage (WG %) and specific growth rate (SGR)) were not significantly different. The density‐dependent influence on growth performance was evident in this study. The WG % and SGR during 90 days’ culture period was significantly higher in 24/m² compared to other groups. This study provides crucial information about the appropriate stocking density and stocking size of lobsters at the field level, which would help to promote sustainable lobster cage farming by maximizing the production potential of the system.     

The Preference of the Omnivorous–Macrophagous, Tilapia zillii (Gervais), to Consume a Natural Free-floating Fern, Azolla pinnata

Free‐floating macrophytes are often common in standing water bodies. Fishponds are suitable medium for Azolla growth; however, it rapidly self‐propagates and doubles its biomass in a few days and could strongly influence nutrient dynamics. The preference of Tilapia zillii (Gervais) to consume the free‐floating plant, Azolla pinnata, was tested in two experiments. In the first experiment, fish with different initial body weights (2–3 g, 7–10 g, 15–20 g, and 50–60 g) were randomly distributed at a rate of 150 ± 5 g/100‐L aquarium and fed fresh A. pinnata for 8 wk. A known weight of fresh plant was given to fish; after 24 h, Azolla remaining in aquaria was collected, dried with tissue paper, and reweighed to determine amount consumed. In the second experiment, fish were fed one of five diets containing different levels of dry Azolla meal as replacements of the control diet (20% crude protein) at levels of 0 (control), 25, 50, 75, or 100% for 13 wk. Growth retardation and weight loss were observed in all fish sizes fed fresh Azolla, and the mortality rates were 53.3–56.7%. The consumption of fresh Azolla decreased over time up to the eighth week; otherwise, Azolla consumption was fish size dependent. Whole‐body contents of crude protein decreased significantly, while total lipids and ash contents increased significantly with increasing fish size. In the second experiment, fish growth was reduced when the level of dry Azolla meal in the diet exceeds 25%. The mortality rate increased significantly with increasing Azolla level in the diet. Carcass composition showed increases in moisture and ash contents and decreases in dry matter, crude protein, and total lipids with the increase of Azolla level in the diets. Amount of diet consumed decreased, while feed conversion ratio increased significantly with the increase in dry Azolla level in the diet. Moreover, protein efficiency ratio, protein productive value, and energy utilization decreased significantly with the increase in dry Azolla level in the diet. It could be concluded that the preference of T. zillii to consume Azolla plants inhabiting water bodies is limited, but it could partially consume the dry Azolla meal at low and moderate levels. The optimum inclusion level of dry Azolla meal should be no more than 25% in T. zillii diet.     

Effects of several factors on growth of milkfish (Chanos chanos Forskal) fingerlings reared with artificial diets in aquaria

This paper presents the effects of feeding level, feeding frequency, salinity of water, kind and particle size of diets, and stocking density on the growth of milkfish (Chanos chanos Forskal) fingerlings which were reared with artificial diets in laboratory tanks. Experimental groups were designed using orthogonal array L₈, and the results were evaluated statistically. Growth of the milkfish fingerlings varied markedly with the kind of diets used and feeding level. The feeding frequency and particle size of the diets also affected growth of the fingerlings significantly, but the salinity of the water did not. The weight gain of the fingerlings did not vary with the stocking densities significantly, whereas the increase (%) in body length was greater at a lower stocking density. The milkfish fingerlings showed the best growth in terms of both weight gain and increase in body length when reared on a purified diet containing 35% casein and 15% gelatin as protein sources under the following conditions: feeding level, 30–35% of body weight; feeding frequency, twice a day; particle size of diets, 125–250 μm diameter; and stocking density, $\text{5 fish}\text{5-liter}$ tank. The means and confidence limits of the weight gain (%) and increase (%) in body length of milkfish fingerlings under the best conditions adopted were estimated to be 360 ± 63.7 and 62.1 ± 10.6, respectively.     

Optimal dietary protein levels in juvenile Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis)

A study was undertaken to determine the dietary protein level for optimal growth performance and body composition of juvenile Senegalese sole. Five experimental extruded diets were formulated to contain increasing levels of protein [430, 480, 530, 570 and 600 g kg^?1 dry matter (DM)] and a constant lipid level, ranging from 100 to 130 g kg^?1 DM. Triplicate groups of 35 sole (initial body weight: 11.9 ± 0.5 g) were grown over 84 days in 60‐L tanks supplied with recirculated seawater. Fish were fed by means of automatic feeders in eight meals per day. At the start and end of the trial, whole‐body samples were withdrawn for proximate composition analysis. At the end of 84 days of experimental feeding, daily weight gain and specific growth rate in fish fed diets P43 and P48 were significantly lower than those found in fish fed higher protein level diets (P53, P57 and P59). Similarly, feed efficiency was also significantly lower in fish fed diet P43 than in fish fed all other dietary treatments. Sole juveniles fed lower protein level diets (P43 and P48) showed a significantly lower protein content than fish fed the higher dietary protein level treatments (P53, P57 and P60). Changes within the tested dietary protein levels did not affect significantly protein productive value or total nitrogen (N) losses in fish. However, daily N gain was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in fish fed diets P53 and P60 than in fish fed the lowest protein level diet (P43). Data from the present study indicate that diets for juvenile Senegalese sole should include at least 53% crude protein to maintain a good overall growth performance. Based on a second‐order polynomial regression model, the daily crude protein requirement for maximum whole‐body N gain as estimated here for Senegalese sole juveniles was 6.43 g kg^?1 body weight day^?1 which corresponds to a value of 1.03 g N intake kg^?1 body weight day^?1. If the present data are expressed on a dietary crude protein concentration basis, the allowance for maximum protein accretion (N gain) would be met by a diet containing a crude protein level of 600 g kg^?1.     

Response of the tropical spiny lobster Panulirus ornatus to protein content of pelleted feed and to a diet of mussel flesh

In an 8‐week growth experiment, juvenile spiny lobsters (Panulirus ornatus) grew best on a feed containing at least 610 g kg^?1 crude protein on a dry matter basis (DM) and a digestible protein to digestible energy ratio of 29.8 mg kJ^?1. The study entailed a six treatment by four replicate randomized block experiment with 222 wild‐caught P. ornatus of mean initial weight (±SD) of 2.5 ± 0.19 g. The lobsters were fed one of five isolipidic feeds (approximately 130 g kg^?1 DM) in which the crude protein was serially incremented between 330 and 610 g kg^?1 DM, or a reference diet comprising the flesh of frozen green‐lip mussels. Lobsters fed the pelleted feeds had high survival (79 ± 4.5%) and responded to increasing dietary crude protein content with progressively higher growth rates, with the daily growth coefficient improving from 0.72% day^?1 with 330 g kg^?1 crude protein to 1.38% day^?1 with 610 g kg^?1 crude protein. Both growth rate and survival were low with the mussel diet (0.80% day^?1and 41 ± 4.5%, respectively). These results demonstrate that tropical spiny lobsters grow well when fed high‐protein, high lipid, pelleted feeds, but feeding on a sole diet of freshly thawed green‐lip mussels was unsatisfactory.     

Effect of dietary carbohydrate level on growth performance of juvenile spotted Babylon (Babylonia areolata Link 1807)

A growth trial was conducted to determine the effects of dietary carbohydrate level on growth performance, feed utilization and metabolism of juvenile spotted babylon. Six isonitrogenous and isoenergetic experimental diets (48% crude protein and 15 MJ kg^− 1 diet) using wheat starch as the carbohydrate source, were formulated to contain six carbohydrate levels. Triplicate groups of 45 animals (initial average weight, 168.39 ± 0.69 mg) were stocked in 120-l tanks and fed to apparent satiation twice daily for 10 weeks. Growth performance and feed utilization were significantly affected by dietary carbohydrate level. Maximum weight gain and specific growth rate occurred at 20% dietary starch inclusion, survival and soft body to shell ratios were not significantly different among diets. There were significant differences in protein, lipid, moisture and glycogen content in soft body. Glycogen content in soft body was positively correlated with dietary starch level. The activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase were significantly affected by dietary starch level, with both peaking in the 20% treatment; however, there were no significant differences in 6-phosphofructokinase activity in any treatment. Quadratic regression analysis of weight gain against dietary starch level indicated that the optimal dietary carbohydrate level for maximum weight gain of juvenile spotted babylon is 27.1% of dry diet.     

Effects of restricted feeding regimes on growth and feed conversion on juvenile green sea urchin,Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis

Groups of juvenile green sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis (average wet weight = 3.3 g), were fed five different dry feed rations (0.2%, 0.4%, 0.8%, 1.2% and 2.4% of their body weight per week) under constant light and temperature conditions for 160 days (Experiment I) in groups to examine growth effects, and for 40 days as individual treatments (Experiment II) to examine feeding efficiency. There was 100% survival of the sea urchins during both experiments. In Experiment I, the lowest ration group (0.2%) had significantly lower growth than the rest of the groups. There was no significant differences in growth between the sea urchin fed ration over 0.4% dry feed of the body wet weight per week. In Experiment II, the lowest feed ration groups (0.2%) had significant lowest growth but had the best feed conversion ratio (FCR), using 0.5 g of feed of dry feed per gram of sea urchin wet weight body growth. The FCR increased with increasing feed ration and the 2.4% group had the poorest FCR, using 1.3 g of feed per gram weight gain. Results from Experiments I and II illustrate that juvenile green sea urchin can grow at a restricted feed ration that is under maximum feed intake, without reduction in growth.     

Dietary l‐methionine requirement of juvenile black sea bream (Sparus macrocephalus) at a constant dietary cystine level

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to determine the effects of dietary methionine level on juvenile black sea bream Sparus macrocephalus. Fish (initial body weight: 14.21 ± 0.24 g) were reared in eighteen 350‐L indoors flow‐through circular fibreglass tanks (20 fish per tank). Isoenergetic and isonitrogenous diets contained six levels of L‐methionine ranging from 7.5 to 23.5 g kg⁻¹ of dry diet in 3.0 g kg⁻¹ increments at a constant dietary cystine level of 3.1 g kg⁻¹. Growth performance and feed utilization were significantly influenced by dietary methionine levels (P < 0.05). Maximum weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed efficiency ratio, protein efficiency ratio and protein productive value (PPV) occurred at 17.2 g methionine kg⁻¹ diet, beyond which they showed declining tendency. Protein contents in whole fish body and dorsal muscle were positively correlated with dietary methionine level, while muscle lipid content was negatively correlated with it. Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of dietary nutrients were significantly affected by dietary treatments except for ADCs of crude lipid. Fish fed the grade level of methionine demonstrated a significant improvement in whole‐body methionine content, total essential amino acids (∑EAA), total non‐essential amino acids (∑NEAAs) and ∑EAA/∑NEAA ratio (P < 0.05). Regarding serum characteristics, significant differences were observed in total cholesterol, glucose and free methionine concentration (P > 0.05), while total protein level and triacylglycerol concentration kept relatively constant among treatments (P < 0.05). Analysis of dose response with second‐order polynomial regression on the basis of either SGR or PPV, the optimum dietary methionine requirements of juvenile black sea bream were estimated to be 17.1 g kg⁻¹ of diet (45.0 g kg⁻¹ methionine of protein) and 17.2 g kg⁻¹ of diet (45.3 g kg⁻¹ methionine of protein) in the presence of 3.1 g kg⁻¹ cystine, respectively.     

Effects of Feeding Levels on Growth Performance, Feed Utilization, Body Composition, and Apparent Digestibility Coefficients of Nutrients for Grouper Epinephelus coioides Juveniles

An experiment was conducted to determine effects of feeding levels on growth performance, feed utilization, body composition, and apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of nutrients for juvenile grouper Epinephelus coioides (initial weight, 10.31 ± 0.36 g). Grouper were fed a practical diet from 0 (starvation) to 3.5% (at 0.5% increments) body weight per day (bw/d) for 8 wk. ANOVA indicated that growth performance, feed utilization, body composition, and ADCs of dry matter, protein, and energy were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by feeding levels. Survival was the lowest for the starvation group and for fish fed a ration of 0.5% bw/d. Final mean body weight, weight gain (WG), specific growth rate, and metabolic growth rate increased with feeding rate from 0 to 2.5% bw/d (P < 0.05) and showed no significant differences above the level (P > 0.05). Feed conversion rate was significantly lower at a feeding level of 2.0% bw/d than above and below the level (P < 0.05). Protein efficiency ratio was markedly highest at the 2.0% bw/d ration level (P < 0.05). Lipid contents of whole body, muscle, and liver increased with increasing feeding rates from 0 to 3% bw/d and showed a slight decline at the feeding level of 3.5% bw/d. Protein contents of whole‐body composition, muscle, and liver remained relatively stable with the different ration amount with the exception of fish fed a ration of 0.5% bw/d, at which grouper possessed significantly lower body protein concentration (P < 0.05). Condition factor, viscerosomatic index, and hepatosomatic index were the lowest for fish fed 0.5% bw/d and tended to increase with the increasing feeding levels. ADCs of dry matter, protein, and energy decreased with increasing feeding levels from 0 to 2.5% bw/d and then remained relatively constant over the level. Based on the broken‐line regression analysis using WG data, the optimum and maintenance feeding levels for grouper were 2.5% bw/d and 0.25% bw/d, respectively.