Aeration rate adjustment at night to prevent sinking syndrome‐related death in the tiger grouper Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (Perciformes:Serranidae) larvae

The effects of different aeration rates at night to prevent sinking syndrome‐related death (SSRD) of the tiger grouper, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus were examined. The aeration rates were fixed at 300 mL min^?1 at daytime (07:00–19:00 hours) and regulated to 0, 300 and 900 mL min^?1 at night (19:00–07:00 hours). Larval survival, growth, feeding intake, sinking velocity, distribution and behaviour, stress level, surface tension‐related death (STRD) and flow velocity distribution were assessed. The occurrence of SSRD in the tiger grouper was observed through the accelerated sinking velocity (Vl) (from 0.15 ± 0.09 cm s^?1 at 4 days AH to 0.41 ± 0.09 cm s^?1 at 12 days AH) coupled with larval passive swimming behaviour at night‐time. On the final day of experiment (15 days AH), larvae reared in 900 mL min^?1 at night had attained significantly higher (P < 0.05) survival (34.4 ± 5.5%), growth (5.8 ± 0.5 mm) and feeding intake (60.46 ± 6.98 ind. larva^?1). A favourable flow field for the tiger grouper was produced in 900 mL min^?1 at night‐time, in which larvae were transported 15–25 cm above the tank bottom and 1.0 cm beneath the water surface. Under these night‐time rearing conditions, larval stress level and number of STRD reared in 900 mL min^?1 compared with those observed in 300 mL min^?1 remained insignificant, indicating that strong turbulence of flow velocity was not detrimental for larvae. Our findings recommend aeration at 900 mL min^?1 at night as this could improve larval survival by reducing SSRD.     

延迟投饵对瓦氏黄颡鱼仔鱼存活、摄食和生长的影响

以瓦氏黄颡鱼仔鱼为研究对象,将其分为15个处理组,每组200尾（各设3个平行组）,分别在孵化后3、4、5、6、7．8、9、10、11、12、13、14、15和16d开始投喂大型涵,第15组为饥饿组,从不投饵。水温24．5～25．5℃,实验周期为30d。结果表明：（1）孵化后3d的瓦氏黄颡鱼仔鱼初次摄食,15日龄不能建立外源性营养的仔鱼进入PNR期,卵黄囊已耗尽。混合营养期持续4．12h。（2）瓦氏黄颡鱼仔鱼在不同饥饿阶段初次摄食率的变化为：开始较低,此后迅速上升,在4～10日龄达到高峰,最高初次摄食率为100％,此后逐步下降。（3）延迟5天投饵对瓦氏黄颡鱼仔鱼的存活率影响不显著,延迟6d投饵瓦氏黄颡鱼仔鱼的存活率随延迟投饵天数的增加而降低。延迟6d投饵,瓦氏黄颡鱼仔鱼的体长增长率随延迟投饵天数的增加而降低。     

What causes cannibalization‐associated suffocation in cultured brown‐marbled grouper,Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (Forsskål, 1775)?

During culture of grouper, cannibalism is a frequent phenomenon that usually causes economic loss. Grouper culture often requires grading to prevent size‐dependent cannibalism. In comparison with orange‐spotted (Epinephelus coioides) and giant grouper (E. lanceolatus), failure to swallow prey during cannibalism is frequently observed in brown‐marbled grouper (E. fuscoguttatus). The cannibal cannot engulf the entire prey and the two fish ultimately end up dying together. Herein, we attempted to compare morphometric differences among orange‐spotted, giant and brown‐marbled grouper. We established a cannibal–prey total length (TL) relationship for brown‐marbled grouper: TL_prey=0.71 TL_cannibal−1.75. According to the equation, a difference of approximately 50% in TL is a threshold to use for grading the grouper. This value is much larger than that used (30%) in orange‐spotted and giant grouper, and this size difference results in a higher incidence of failed cannibalism attempts in brown‐marbled grouper. It is our belief that the standard grading method will fail to produce as good an effect in brown‐marbled grouper as is seen in orange‐spotted and giant grouper. Therefore, in addition to grading, other manipulations such as satiation feeding, nutritional supplementation and optimal stocking densities should be applied to reduce cannibalism of brown‐marbled grouper.     

Parasites of cultured and wild brown‐marbled grouper Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (Forsskål, 1775) in Lampung Bay,Indonesia

A total of 210 Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (brown‐marbled grouper) was examined for parasites. During three consecutive seasons (two rainy and one dry season from 2002 to 2004), 35 specimens each taken from floating net cages of the National Sea Farming Development Centre (Balai Budidaya Laut) and from wild catches in Lampung Bay, South Sumatra, Indonesia were studied. Twenty‐five (cultured grouper) and 30 (wild grouper) parasite species/taxa were identified, with an infracommunity ranging from one to nine (cultured) and three to 14 parasite species (wild), demonstrating a species‐rich parasite fauna even in the cultured fish. Protozoans (1 species), microsporeans (1), myxozoans (1), digeneans (8), monogeneans (5), cestodes (3), nematodes (8), acanthocephalans (2) and crustaceans (6) were found. The most abundant parasites were the monogeneans Pseudorhabdosynochus epinepheli and Pseudorhabdosynochus lantauensis for both, cultured and wild grouper during all seasons. For the cultured fish, the prevalence of monoxenous ectoparasites (e.g. P. epinepheli, P. lantauensis, Capsalidae gen. et sp. indet., Benedenia epinepheli) was in most cases higher than that of heteroxenous endoparasites. This contrasts the wild grouper, where heteroxenous parasites such as Allopodocotyle epinepheli and Raphidascaris sp. occurred at a similar prevalence compared with the fairly abundant Pseudorhabdosynochus spp. No seasonality of infestation was observed for both cultured and wild fish. The high levels of infestation of potentially pathogenic monogeneans throughout the year could result in significant parasite outbreaks at the locality studied.     

Effects of starvation on survival,growth and development of Exopalaemon carinicauda larvae

This study aimed at evaluating the effects of two starvation modes (fasting‐feeding mode and feeding‐fasting mode) on survival, growth and development of mysis larvae of Exopalaemon carinicauda. It showed that food restriction significantly affected the survival, growth and development in both starvation modes. With the extension of initial starvation period, a significantly reduced survival rate during metamorphosis was observed. In the fasting‐feeding mode, the duration of metamorphosis was extended and the body lengths of the individuals, which experienced successful metamorphosis to the post‐larval stage 1, were much shorter. In the feeding‐fasting mode, the extension of initial feeding period led to dramatically increased survival rate and body lengths, while there was no significant difference in duration of metamorphosis of those groups that reached to post‐larval stage. The 50% point‐of‐no‐return and the 50% point‐of‐reserve‐saturation were 3.85 days and 4.81 days respectively. The results of this study indicate that E. carinicauda mysis have the ability to withstand or recover from relatively extended starvation, but to ensure the success of commercial seedling, timely and adequate feeding is necessary. The information obtained from this study could provide a basis to optimize the feeding schedule of artificial seedling of E. carinicauda.     

延迟首次投喂对胭脂鱼仔鱼生长、摄食及消化酶活性的影响

在水温(19±0.5)℃条件下,为研究不同饥饿时间对胭脂鱼仔鱼生长、摄食及消化酶活性的影响,设定两个实验:实验一,设置完全饥饿组(S)和正常摄食组(C);实验二,设置延迟0(对照组)、1、3、5、7、9和11 d投喂组,分别记作D0、D1、D3、D5、D7、D9和D11。实验历时29 d。结果显示:(1)孵化后7 d胭脂鱼仔鱼初次摄食,14 d时卵黄物质耗尽,27 d进入不可逆点期(PNR),在抵近PNR时,胸角特征明显,死亡率显著增加;(2)恢复摄食后,D1和D3组仔鱼体质量与D0组无显著差异,表现出完全补偿生长效应;(3)在饥饿1～7 d过程中,胭脂鱼仔鱼的胰蛋白酶和淀粉酶活性显著下降(P<0.05),随着饥饿时间的延长,饥饿9～11 d仔鱼的胰蛋白酶和脂肪酶活性显著上升。恢复摄食后19日龄时,胰蛋白酶活性随饥饿时间的延长呈先上升后下降的趋势,但淀粉酶活性与其相反,呈先降后升的趋势;29日龄时,随饥饿时间的延长脂肪酶和淀粉酶活性均呈显著上升趋势。 结果表明,饥饿会导致胭脂鱼仔鱼的生长、摄食和消化酶活性产生明显的变化,其补偿生长随饥饿时间的不同而不同;在恢复摄食后,不同饥饿程度仔鱼在不同恢复时间消化酶恢复策略并不一致,饥饿时间越长越倾向于对碳水化合物的利用,但其内在机制有待进一步研究。     

Growth and feed performance,digestibility and acute stress response of juvenile grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) fed diets with hydrolysate from milkfish offal

Nutritional qualities of fish processing by‐products can further be improved through enzymatic hydrolysis. The objective of this study was to elucidate the efficacy of hydrolysed milkfish offal at different inclusion levels when fed to juvenile grouper, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus, with an initial body weight of 2.88 ± 0.06 g. The animals were fed for 56 days with seven diets supplemented with 0 (control), 5%, 15% and 25% of milkfish offal (MO) and milkfish offal hydrolysate (MOH). The diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous (45%) and isolipidic (11%). The diets were assigned to 21 tanks (15 fish per tank) with each diet having three replicates. Results from the experimental trials indicated that feed conversion efficiency, feed intake and weight gain of fish significantly (P < 0.05) improved when fed diets with MOH. No significant differences within the rest of the dietary treatments were observed. Survival rate (>90%) did not differ in all the dietary treatments. Proximate composition (crude protein, crude fat and ash) indicated no significant difference among fish fed from all the dietary treatments. Apparent digestibility of MOH indicated a 95% and 66% digestibility for protein and dry matter respectively. Plasma stress parameters (cortisol and glucose) were not influenced by the dietary treatment when fish were subjected to an acute stressor (5‐min chasing). Liver morphology indicated normal hepatocyte shape and the presence of lipid droplets in fish fed from all the dietary treatments. The results indicated that milkfish offal processed as hydrolysate can be utilized in grouper diets and can promote growth and feed efficiency when supplied at 10–15%.     

延迟投饵对杂交鲟仔鱼生长、存活和体成分的影响

以杂交鲟(Huso huso ×Acipenser baeri )仔鱼为研究对象,将其分为 8个处理组,每组100尾(各设2个平行组),分别在孵化后6 d(对照组)、8 d、10 d、12 d、14 d、16 d和18 d开始投喂冰冻卤虫和碎水蚯蚓(以质量比1:1混合),5 d后只投喂碎水蚯蚓。第8组为饥饿组,从不投饵。水温17 ℃,实验周期30 d。结果显示,仔鱼于孵出后8日龄进入混合营养期;10日龄左右是仔鱼开始加速生长的关键时期;12日龄仔鱼进入外源性营养期。随起始投饵时间的延迟,仔鱼的全长、湿重、干重和粗蛋白含量下降,鱼体水分含量则随之升高。但对照组、8日龄及10日龄起始投喂组之间的鱼体水分、粗蛋白、粗脂肪含量并没有显著差异(P>0.05),14日龄及其以后各起始投喂组仔鱼的生长和鱼体生化成分则与上述各组存在显著差异(P相似文献   

Occurrence of trypanosomiasis in net‐cage cultured groupers (Cromileptes altivelis and Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) in Nanshan port of Sanya,Hainan province,China

In the present study, reported was an unidentified trypanosome that caused massive mortalities of cultured humpback grouper, Cromileptes altivelis (Valenciennes, 1828) and brown‐marbled grouper, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (Forsskål, 1775) in the net‐cages in Sanya, China, and some general pathological features of E. fuscoguttatus after experimental infection of the trypanosome. Before dying in the net cages of diseased fish, listlessness and anorexia were the observable symptoms. The blood of the diseased fish was light‐coloured in comparison with that of healthy one. E. fuscoguttatus experimentally infected with this trypanosome are with different degrees of engorgement in gill lamella, liver, spleen and kidney. Tissue lesion and necrosis were observed in liver and spleen of diseased fish.     

Effects of delayed first feeding on larval growth,survival and development of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Holothuroidea)

The time of first feeding is an important factor for establishing successful exogenous feeding in aquaculture hatcheries as it is crucial for larval survival and growth. The effects of delayed first feeding by the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus larvae were investigated. Groups of larvae were fed immediately after completion of the digestive tract (fed control) or starved for 24, 48, 72, 108 and 120 h post fertilization. The growth rates of A. japonicus larvae were the same as those of the control group when first feeding was delayed for less than 72 h. When the period of starvation was beyond 72 h, growth rates were reduced. The fed control group had the highest percentage of late auricularia larvae (70.0%) on day 11, followed by the groups starved for 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively, which had 35.00%, 43.48% and 41.67% of late auricularia larvae. When larvae were starved for more than 72 h, the percentage of late auricularia larvae never exceeded 12.0%. Most larvae halted in development and were deformed before reaching metamorphosis when starved for 108 and 120 h. Prolonged exposure to starvation (more than 48 h) resulted in a significant decrease in percentage of larvae reaching settlement. The point‐of‐no‐return (PNR) of A. japonicus larvae was calculated 110.4 h. Ratios of stomach length to total length, stomach width to total width were more sensitive to starvation than other larval morphometrics. To avoid mortality and obtain adequate growth and development, A. japonicus larvae in commercial culture should be fed within 48 h of the completion of the digestive tract.     

Effects of dietary supplementation of probiotics on the growth,activities of digestive and non‐specific immune enzymes in hybrid grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus ♂ × Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀)

Effects of Bacillus cereus BC‐01, Lactobacillus acidophilus LAG01, Clostridium butyricum CBG01 and their combinations as supplementation on the growth performance, digestive enzyme activities and serum non‐specific immunity of hybrid grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus ♂×E. fuscoguttatus ♀) were assessed. Seven different diets, that is one control diet (basal feed without any probiotics, CT) and six treatment diets containing single B. cereus (Bs), L. acidophilus (Ls) and C. butyricum (Cs) at 1.0 × 10⁹ cfu/kg feed, and also their combinations in equal proportion at 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 × 10⁹ cfu/kg feed (BLC1, BLC2 and BLC3) were prepared respectively. After 60‐day feeding trial, the final weight, specific growth rate,food consumption, food conversion efficiency and apparent digestibility coefficient of fish in Ls and BLC3 were significantly higher compared with the control (p < .05). The activities of pepsin and trypsin in the intestine of fish for Ls and BLC3 were significantly higher relative to the control (p < .05). Relative to controls, significantly enhanced amylase and lipase activities in proximal intestine except for Cs and BLC1 and lipase activities in distal intestine except for Cs were observed (p < .05). Meanwhile, activities of superoxide dismutase in the serum of fish for all treatments, lysozyme and catalase in Ls and BLC3, and glutathione peroxidase except for Cs were significantly enhanced (p < .05). Based on the above, dietary supplementation of single L. acidophilus at 1.0 × 10⁹ cfu/kg or combination of three strains at 3.0 × 10⁹ cfu/kg for hybrid grouper is recommended.     

饥饿和补偿生长对点带石斑鱼幼鱼摄食和生长的影响

在水温29.2±0.2℃条件下,对点带石斑鱼幼鱼(1.832±0.03 g)进行了不同时间的饥饿后再供食的恢复生长试验。对照组(S0)持续投喂30 d,饥饿组S2、S4、S6、S8和S10分别饥饿2 d、4 d、6 d、8 d和10 d后再分别恢复投喂28 d、26 d、24 d、22 d和20 d。结果表明:饥饿组在恢复投喂后,体重迅速增重,且S2的体重超过了S0,但两者体重差异不显著(P>0.05),而其他各饥饿组的体重均显著低于S0和S2组(P<0.05)。点带石斑鱼经饥饿再恢复投喂,其特殊生长率和摄食率均显著高于S0(P<0.05);食物转化率呈波动变化,各饥饿组的食物转化率大部分均低于S0。比较分析认为,S2为完全补偿生长,其他各试验组为部分补偿生长,且这种补偿生长效应主要是通过恢复生长阶段提高摄食水平来实现。     

延迟投饵对卵形鲳鲮早期仔鱼阶段摄食、成活及生长的影响

利用人工繁殖产生的卵形鲳够（Trachinotus ovatus）初孵仔鱼,在水温（26．8±1．4）℃、盐度28．2±0．8条件下,对延迟投饵0～6d的卵形鲳够仔鱼的摄食、生长及其成活情况进行了研究。结果显示,仔鱼于3Et龄开口,于开口的当天投饵及延迟投饵1、2、3、4和5d,投饵后2h内仔鱼的摄食率分别为15％、30％、50％、25％、15％和5％,每尾鱼的平均摄食量分别为0．4、0．6、1．3、0．6、0．3和0．1个轮虫。延迟投饵6d一组仔鱼的摄食率均为0。延迟投饵0、1和2d各组仔鱼的成活率相差不大,但延迟3d以上仔鱼的成活率急剧下降。卵形鲳鲣仔鱼的初次摄食饥饿不可逆点（PNR）出现在仔鱼开口后4d,开始投喂饵料的最佳时期应在仔鱼开口后的3d之内。     

Acute and chronic effects of aqueous ammonia on marbled spinefoot rabbitfish,Siganus rivulatus (Forsskål 1775)

Ammonia is a metabolite of aquatic organisms which might reach deleterious levels in intensive fish farms. The aim of the present study was to determine median lethal concentrations (96‐h LC₅₀) of total ammonia nitrogen (TA‐N) on marbled spinefoot rabbitfish (Siganus rivulatus) and chronic effects of TA‐N on survival, growth and behaviour of juvenile rabbitfish over a 50 day period. In the first experiment, fish were exposed to 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 mg L^?1 TA‐N for 96 h and survival evaluated. In the second experiment, 12 fish were stocked per 50‐L tank and treated with one of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 mg L^?1 TA‐N with three replicate tanks per treatment. Survival and growth were determined and histopathological alterations of gills due to chronic ammonia exposure were studied by light and electron microscopy. The 96‐h LC₅₀ values were 16–18 mg L^?1 TA‐N. In the chronic exposure experiment, fish reared in water with 0 mg L^?1 TA‐N had 100% survival and had 50% weight increase in 50 days. Fish at 2 and 4 mg L^?1 TA‐N all died whilst fish in 6, 8, 10 and 12 mg L^?1 TA‐N survived and grew albeit less than in treatment 0 mg L^?1. Gills from ammonia treated fish displayed severe histological and ultrastructural alterations including hyperplasia, hypertrophy and fusion of secondary lamellae, aneurysms and presence of pleomorphic altered cells. Chronic exposure to ammonia is deleterious to marbled spinefoot rabbitfish and low concentrations of ammonia appear to kill the fish in <50 days whilst fish can survive for more than 50 days at concentrations between 6 and 12 mg L^?1 TA‐N.     

The effects of the tank colour on growth performance and physiological responses in fingerling grouper,Epinephelus coioides

In this study, the effects of different background colours on growth performance and physiological parameters of Epinephelus coioides were investigated. One hundred eighty E. coioides (average weight 18.16 ± 0.07 g) were distributed in black, white and blue 300‐L tanks and fed to satiation for 60 days. The tank colour had no significant effect on the weight gain, condition factor, hepatosomatic index and specific growth rate (p > .05). The lowest amount of viscerosomatic index and the highest carcass protein were recorded in the white tank (p < .05). Daily food intake, feed conversion ratio and plasma glucose were significantly higher in the blue tank (p < .05). The highest levels of haematocrit and plasma triglyceride were observed in the white tank, while the total protein and albumin were higher in the black tank compared to the other tanks. The tank colour had no significant effects on the plasma cortisol level (p > .05). Our findings showed that colours used in this study did not evoke stress and thus had no effect on growth, but some metabolic adaptation occurred in each colour to achieve optimum growth.     

养殖密度对豹纹鳃棘鲈生长和血液生化指标的影响

采用实验生态学方法研究了饥饿对豹纹鳃棘鲈(Plectropomus leopardus)仔鱼形态发育、生长和成活的影响,并测定了饥饿仔鱼的初次摄食率和不可逆点(PNR)。结果显示,水温23~24 ℃下豹纹鳃棘鲈仔鱼2.5 DPH(孵化后天数)开口摄食,3.0 DPH卵黄囊和油球消失,混合营养期仅0.5 d,容易遭受饥饿胁迫。饥饿仔鱼最高初次摄食率为65%,出现在3.5 DPH; PNR发生在4.5~5.0 DPH,仔鱼具有初次摄食能力的时间仅2.0~2.5 d。对照组和饥饿组仔鱼在3.5 DPH前全长无明显差异(P>0.05),之后饥饿组仔鱼出现生理性萎缩,全长开始与对照组差异显著(P < 0.05)。饥饿组仔鱼在内源性营养消耗完毕后出现了一系列因饥饿所导致的形态发育特征,并于6.5 DPH全部死亡,因此豹纹鳃棘鲈仔鱼最佳投喂时间为2.5~3.5 DPH。

     

延迟投饵对卵形鲳鲹早期仔鱼阶段摄食、成活及生长的影响

利用人工繁殖产生的卵形鲳鲹（Trachinotus ovatus）初孵仔鱼,在水温(26.81.4) ℃、盐度28.20.8条件下,对延迟投饵0~6 d的卵形鲳鲹仔鱼的摄食、生长及其成活情况进行了研究。结果显示,仔鱼于3日龄开口,于开口的当天投饵及延迟投饵1、2、3、4和5 d,投饵后2 h内仔鱼的摄食率分别为15%、30%、50%、25%、15%和5%,每尾鱼的平均摄食量分别为0.4、0.6、1.3、0.6、0.3和0.1个轮虫。延迟投饵6 d一组仔鱼的摄食率均为0。延迟投饵0、1和2 d各组仔鱼的成活率相差不大,但延迟3 d以上仔鱼的存活率急剧下降。卵形鲳鲹仔鱼的初次摄食饥饿不可逆点（PNR）出现在仔鱼开口后4 d,开始投喂饵料的最佳时期应在仔鱼开口后的3 d之内。     

Rapid detection of SNPs in candidate genes regulating the growth of orange‐spotted grouper,Epinephelus coioides (Hamilton, 1822), using semiconductor sequencing

Orange‐spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) is one of the most important marine food species in Southeast Asia and China and has been cultured for decades. In this study, we fully utilized the limited capacity of semiconductor sequencing, the high efficiency of long‐range PCR for target enrichment and a non‐indexed pooling strategy to screen single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a breeding population of orange‐spotted grouper. Forty‐one genomic DNA fragments, with a total length of approximately 180 kb, including 22 candidate genes that control growth, and from a DNA pool of 20 heaviest and 22 lightest individuals of the sampled population were successfully sequenced using an Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine. 3 503 466 clear reads were produced with a length of 192 ± 56 bp, 86.8% of which were mapped to the reference with an average coverage depth of 2567‐fold and physical coverage of 98.8%. Finally, 1623 high‐quality SNPs were adopted. Compared with Sanger sequencing of three random common regions, the sensitivity and specificity of our approach were 39.4% and 100.0% respectively. A mutation located at the third position of the previously labelled start codon of growth hormone receptor type 1 invalidated the start codon. Furthermore, comparison of the frequencies of genotypes and alleles of this site between the two extreme groups, prediction of signal peptide and identification of conservative mRNA sequences suggested that the functional start codon is likely located at the position of another downstream in‐frame ATG in the mutant. These detected SNP markers will provide important tools for the selective breeding of orange‐spotted grouper.