Rates of Yolk Utilization and Effects of Delayed Initial Feeding in the Larvae of the Freshwater Fishes Rohu and Singhi

The yolk utilization rates and effects of delayed initial feeding were examined on the feeding ability, survival and growth of the larvae of two freshwater species, rohu, Labeo rohita and singhi, Heteropneustes fossilis reared in the laboratory at 26 (2) °C. Although the yolk reserves in both species lasted at least 7 days after hatching, all larvae initiated feeding by the fifth day, indicating a short period of mixed (endogenous and exogenous) feeding. When first feeding was delayed beyond the fifth day, subsequent weight gains and survival rates declined progressively for both rohu and singhi, although their feeding abilities were not adversely affected until the seventh (singhi) and eleventh (rohu) day. The point of no return (PNR) (when 50% of the unfed larvae were unable to feed when offered food) was reached in singhi when they were 8 days old and in rohu when they were 14 days old. Even among the larvae that fed at PNR, their subsequent mortality rate was nearly 100%, reflecting the irreversible effects of starvation. This study showed that rohu were more resistant to starvation than singhi.     

Enhancing Growth of Common Carp, Rohu and Mozambique Tilapia through Plant Substrate: The Role of Bacterial Biofilm

Experiments were conducted to enhance the growth of common carp (Cyprinus carpio), rohu (Labeo rohita) and Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) through use of sugarcane bagasse as substrate. Bagasse was suspended in water with or without supplementation with fertilizers. Bagasse supplemented with cattle dung and urea favoured higher zooplankton production and significantly (p < 0.05) increased fish growth by over 50% compared to bagasse or fertilizers on their own. This higher production of fish is attributed to bacterial biofilm promoted on the substrate which, apart from forming food for zooplankton and fish, contributed to improved water quality by lowering ammonia.     

Effects of probiotic doses on the survival and growth of hatchlings,fry, and advanced fry of Rohu (Labeo rohita Hamilton)

ABSTRACT

Rohu (Labeo rohita) is the most popular fish in South Asia. Its farming is often constrained by shortages of seed due to low survival (20%–30%) during nursing. Hypothesizing that probiotics might help, varying doses of two multistrain commercial probiotics were tested at hatchling (days 8–38), fry (days 38–68), and advanced fry (days 68–98) stages. The first probiotics (P1) consisted of Bacillus subtilis, Pediococcus acidilactici, and yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and the second probiotics (P2) of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacilli plus yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), microalgae (Spirulina sp.), and phytase. Low, medium, and high doses of P1 (1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 g/kg) and P2 (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 g/kg) were tested, supplementing the control diet, which consisted of mustard oil cake (40%), rice bran (30%), wheat flour (20%), and fish powder (10%). At the hatchling stage results showed that medium and high doses of P1 increased survival by 14.4% and 16.2% respectively over the control. Similarly, medium and high doses of P2 increased survival by 22.1% and 22.3% respectively compared to the control. Survival of hatchlings and fry increased linearly (P < 0.01) with the increase in the doses of P1. The dose of P2 had a quadratic relationship with the survival based on which dose of 1.5 g and 1.7 g/kg feed was found to maximize the survival of hatchlings (72%) and fry (99%) respectively. Regression analysis also showed that maximum specific growth rate (SGR%/day) of fry could be obtained with the estimated dose of 3.3 g/kg diet for P1 and for 1.5 g/kg diet for P2. Therefore, tested probiotics are beneficial during the nursing of Rohu hatchlings and fry or before the age of 68 days but not for nursing afterwards.     

In vitro assay of plant protease inhibitors from four different sources on digestive proteases of rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton), fingerlings

The in vitro inhibitory effect of protease inhibitors from four seed extracts (soybean, grasspea, black gram and horse gram) on digestive proteases of rohu was assessed by enzyme inhibition assay and substrate sodium dodecyl sulphate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. High proteolytic activity was detected in the intestinal extract of rohu (Labeo rohita) fingerlings at two different pH ranges (8–8.5 and 10–11). That protein digestion occurs mainly in the alkaline condition in this fish without a stomach is evident from very high trypsin activity (0.95±0.04 benzoyl‐dl ‐arginine‐p‐nitroanilide U mg protein⁻¹) in the intestine. In case of grass pea seed, more than 50% inhibition of alkaline protease activity was recorded when the ratio of inhibitor to enzyme was 9.41 μg U⁻¹. More than 40% inhibition of protease activity was recorded in case of horse gram seed when the ratio of inhibitor to enzyme was 5.51 μg U⁻¹. Black gram at 11.0 μg U⁻¹ and soybean seed proteins at 62.75 μg U⁻¹ resulted in 50% and more than 30% inhibition of digestive protease activity in rohu fingerlings respectively. A plot of the inhibition values obtained by changing the relative concentrations of enzyme/inhibitor resulted in different dose–response curves for different protein sources. The use of substrate gel electrophoresis allowed the visualization of the aforementioned differences in inhibition. Each seed extract produced a characteristic profile of protease inhibition. It is concluded that protease inhibitors present in plant protein sources adversely affect the digestive proteases in fish and hence there is a need to eliminate/reduce the amount of such inhibitors through proper processing before incorporation into aquafeeds.     

Role of Stocking Density on Growth and Survival of Catla,Catla catla,and Rohu,Labeo rohita,Larvae and Water Quality in a Recirculating System

ABSTRACT

Catla, Catla catla, and rohu, Labeo rohita, fry were cultured at 6,667,8,333, and 10,000/m³ in 15-L aquaria in recirculating systems for 30 days. Larvae were fed with exogenous live plankton. Cultures at 6,667 and 8,333 larvae/m³ showed significantly (P <0.05) higher survival and growth than larvae stocked at 10,000 larvae/m³ for both species. Food was more efficiently used in low stocking density, as evident from the significantly (P <0.05) lower values of feed conversion ratio in lower density compared to those for high stocking density. Specific growth rate of both species was high in the early stage and gradually declined along with the ontogenic development. Dissolved oxygen level was higher in the low density system than in the high density one. Values of phosphate and COD increased during the experiment. Ammonia, nitrite, phosphate, and COD levels were significantly (P <0.05) higher in the 10,000 larvae/m³ density system than in the other two systems for both species. Considering the survival and growth of fish and values of water quality parameters, it appears that stocking density can be raised up to 8,333 larvae/m³ with a recirculating system for both catla and rohu.     

Effect of dietary lysine and methionine supplementation on growth, nutrient utilization, carcass compositions and haemato-biochemical status in Indian Major Carp, Rohu (Labeo rohita H.) fed soy protein-based diet

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted in flow through system to examine the effects of dietary supplementation of lysine and methionine on growth, nutrient utilization, haemato-biochemical status and carcass compositions in Indian major carp, rohu, Labeo rohita fingerlings (average weight 6.32 ± 0.06 g). Four experimental soy protein-based diets D ₀ (without lysine or methionine supplementation), D ₁ (lysine supplementation alone), D ₂ (methionine supplementation alone) and D₃ (both lysine and methionine supplementation) were fed to triplicate groups. l -Lysine and dl -methionine were added to the diets containing 550 g kg⁻¹ soybean meals at 4 and 7 g kg⁻¹ of dry diet respectively. Significant higher weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), dry matter retention, nitrogen retention, total ash retention, whole carcass protein, haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit value, total erythrocytic count, total leucocytic count, plasma glucose and plasma total protein and lower FCR, per cent lipid retention and whole body moisture content were observed in fish fed soya protein-based diet supplemented with both lysine and methionine than that of fish of other dietary groups at the end of 8 weeks feeding trial. Although fish fed diet supplemented with either methionine or lysine did not show any significant differences of growth performances, feed utilization, carcass composition and haemato-biochemical status, fish of both of these dietary groups showed significantly better growth performances, feed utilization, carcass composition and haemato-biochemical status than that of fish fed diet without lysine and methionine supplementation.     

Setting Ability of Threadfin Bream (Nemipterus japonicus) Meat as Affected by Freezing and Frozen Storage with Special Reference to Transglutaminase Enzyme Activity and Rheological Properties

The effect of freezing and frozen storage of threadfin bream fish (Nemipterus japonicus) meat on the setting and gel-forming ability has been evaluated. The dynamic viscoelastic properties of fish meat during setting and thermal gelation process were evaluated using Controlled Stress Rheometer under oscillatory mode. A sharp decrease in setting ability was recorded immediately after freezing as revealed by storage modulus (G?) values. The transglutaminase (TGase) enzyme activity of fish meat decreased from the initial value of 81.09 to 51.46 U/g meat/min at the end of 200 days of frozen storage. A decrease in setting ability of fish meat beyond 160 days of frozen storage is probably related to lower TGase enzyme activity. The gel-forming ability was related to setting ability during the frozen storage period. Although the protein solubility showed a decreasing trend during 200 days of frozen storage, the decrease was not significant. The effect of freezing and frozen storage on calcium-activated adenosine triphosphatase (Ca²⁺-ATPase) enzyme activity of fish mince was significant (P < 0.05). A reduction in protein solubility and Ca²⁺-ATPase enzyme activity is an indication of aggregation/denaturation of myofibrillar proteins.     

Impact of varied frequency of nitrogen fertilization on the grow‐out performance of Labeo rohita (Hamilton)

A grow‐out monoculture experiment for rohu, Labeo rohita was conducted for 1 year in nine earthen ponds of 0.04 ha each to study the impact of varied frequency of nitrogen fertilization on fish growth. Ponds were stocked at 8000 fingerlings ha^?1 density. While ponds were applied with cattle manure and phosphate fertilizer at conventional dosages followed for grow‐out carp culture, nitrogen fertilization was carried out at 15‐, 10‐ and 7‐day intervals and were designated as treatments T‐1, T‐2 and T‐3 respectively. Although all the water parameters in the treatments were within the suitable range for grow‐out carp farming, annual average concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO), plankton as well as availability of nutrients such as total ammonia‐ and nitrate‐nitrogen in ponds were significantly higher in T‐3 compared with T‐1 and T‐2. Greater fluctuation of critical parameters like DO, plankton concentration and total ammonia nitrogen were observed in T‐1 and T‐3 while the same were more consistent in T‐2, revealing the prevalence of a better growing environment in the latter. Fish in T‐2 also showed better specific growth rate, higher body weight attainment and higher biomass yield compared with the other two treatments, revealing the desirability of nitrogen fertilization at 10‐day intervals in carp culture.     

Effect of calcium and magnesium hardness on acute copper toxicity to Indian major carp, Labeo rohita (Hamilton) and catfish, Channa punctatus (Bloch)

Four experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of calcium and magnesium hardness on the acute toxicity of copper sulphate to Indian major carp, rohu (Labeo rohita, Hamilton) fingerlings and juvenile catfish (Channa punctatus, Bloch) in medium alkalinity experiments. A preliminary bioassay determined the 96 h LC₅₀ of copper sulphate to be 0.56 mg L^?1 for L. rohita fingerlings and 11.78 mg L^?1 for juvenile C. punctatus placed in water with calcium hardness and total alkalinity set at 100 mg L^?1 CaCO₃. In the first experiment, rohu were exposed to 0.56 mg L^?1 copper sulphate in environments where calcium hardness was varied from 50 to 350 mg L^?1 CaCO₃ and total alkalinity was 100 mg L^?1 CaCO₃. As calcium hardness increased, copper‐induced rohu mortalities decreased significantly from 90% at 50 mg L^?1 CaCO₃ to 7% at 350 mg L^?1 CaCO₃. In the second experiment, rohu were exposed to 0.56 mg L^?1 copper sulphate in environments where magnesium hardness was varied from 50 to 350 mg L^?1 CaCO₃ with total alkalinity set at 100 mg L^?1 CaCO₃. Hundred percent mortality was observed in magnesium‐based hardness treatments. In the third experiment, catfish were exposed to 11.78 mg L^?1 copper sulphate in environments where calcium hardness was varied from 50 to 400 mg L^?1 and total alkalinity was 100 mg L^?1 CaCO₃. As calcium hardness increased, copper‐induced catfish mortalities decreased significantly from 90% at 50 mg L^?1 CaCO₃ to 4% at 400 mg L^?1 CaCO₃. In the fourth experiment, catfish were exposed to 11.78 mg L^?1 copper sulphate in environments where magnesium hardness was varied from 50 to 400 mg L^?1 CaCO₃, with total alkalinity set at 100 mg L^?1 CaCO₃. In this case, 100% mortality was also observed in magnesium‐based treatments. Mortality rates in magnesium hardness treatments were consistent with those in the second experiment. These data suggest a calcium‐specific mechanism with respect to acute copper toxicity both in rohu and catfish.     

Fish Compost and its Effect on Growth and Survival of Indian Major Carp,Labeo Rohita

Fish compost was prepared using wastes of deep sea fish, Pricanthus hamrur, along with coffee husk as bulk material in a simple and less expensive method. The prepared fish compost was evaluated on growth and survival of Indian major carp, Labeo rohita, and production of both phytoplankton and zooplankton in 25 m³ cement cisterns. Juveniles of Labeo rohita (6.0 ± 0.35 g) were stocked @ 15 numbers/cistern. Two treatments with initial dosages of compost namely, 5 kg/cistern (2000 kg/ha), 2.5 kg/cistern (1000 kg/ha), and cattle dung @ 12.5 kg/cistern (5000 kg/ha), served as control in first installment. Subsequent monthly application of second and third installments was carried out with dosages of 1 kg/cistern (400 kg/ha) and 0.5 kg/cistern (200 kg/ha) in fish compost treatments and 2.5 kg (1000 kg/ha) of cattle dung (control). The fish were fed 30% protein diet at a rate of 5% of the fish biomass. Significantly higher growth (127.0 g) and survival (89.75%) of Labeo rohita were recorded in 2.5 and 0.5 kg fish compost treatment than in control and other treated group. Higher and sustained plankton production also was observed in compost treated tanks.     

Microbial levan in the diet of Labeo rohita Hamilton juveniles: effect on non-specific immunity and histopathological changes after challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila

A 60-day feeding trial was conducted to study the immuno-protective effect of microbial levan on Labeo rohita juveniles challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila. Six purified diets were prepared with different levels of microbial levan: control (no levan), T1 (Basal + 0.25%), T2 (Basal + 0.50%), T3 (Basal + 0.75%), T4 (Basal + 1%) and T5 (Basal + 1.25%), fed to six groups of fish in triplicate. Among the treatment groups the haemoglobin content and total leucocyte count were increased with a dietary supplementation of levan at 1% or more. An increasing trend for total erythrocyte count was observed with increasing level of dietary levan. Lower levan-supplemented groups showed a higher albumin/globulin ratio. As the levan supplementation was increased, there was a gradual increase in serum lysozyme activity and respiratory burst activity [nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) assay] reduction values. The highest lysozyme activity and NBT were observed in the T5 group although this was similar to the T4 group ( P  > 0.05). No significant histo-architectural changes were associated with dietary levan levels. After challenge with A. hydrophila , moderately degenerated hepatocytes, oedema and leucocytic infiltration in parenchymatous tissues, and extensive haemorrhage and haemosiderosis in the kidney were observed in the control group. However, the T5 group supplemented with 1.25% levan showed infiltrating leucocytes in the liver while the kidney showed only moderate degeneration of renal tubules. The relative survival per cent of juveniles after challenge with A. hydrophila was the highest in the T5 group followed by T4. This suggests that microbial levan at 1.25% can be used as dietary immunostimulant for L. rohita juveniles.     

Effects of dietary inclusion of the beta-adrenergic agonist, salbutamol, on growth performance and whole-body composition of rohu Labeo rohita (Hamilton) fingerlings fed diets containing two protein levels

A 60-day feeding experiment was conducted in the laboratory to evaluate the effect of oral administration of the beta-adrenergic agonist (BAA), salbutamol, on growth, nutrient utilization and whole-body composition of rohu Labeo rohita (Hamilton) fingerlings (average weight 5.51 ± 0.07 g) acting as a repartitioning agent in intermediary metabolism and redistributing nutrients for muscle synthesis. Two diets (diets 30/0 and 40/0) were formulated containing 30% and 40% crude protein to serve as basal diets containing the same ingredient composition. Another four diets (diets 30/3, 30/6, 40/3 and 40/6) were prepared in the same way to contain either 3 or 6 mg kg⁻¹ BAA salbutamol at each protein level making the total of six experimental diets. Rohu fingerlings were fed with the experimental diets in three replicate treatments at a restricted feeding regime equivalent to 2% of body weight (BW) day⁻¹. A significant (P < 0.05) interaction effect was found between dietary protein level and BAA treatment. Dietary incorporation of BAA at both protein levels significantly (P < 0.05) increased growth and nutrient utilization in terms of weight gain (%), specific growth rate (SGR), feed:gain ratio (FGR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER). BAA treatment at the 6 mg kg⁻¹ concentration led to a 12% rise in growth with the 30% protein diet and a 6% rise with the 40% protein diet, above their respective controls (without BAA treatment). However, no significant differences were found by raising the BAA concentration from 3 to 6 mg kg⁻¹. The apparent digestibility values for protein, lipid and energy were only higher with the 30% protein diets containing BAA. At both protein levels tested, BAA exerted a significant (P < 0.05) positive influence on protein retention and a negative influence on lipid retention efficiency, although the differences between the 3 and 6 mg kg⁻¹ BAA diets were not significant. This indicated that BAA acted as a repartitioning agent in suppressing lipid deposition in favour of protein accretion. BAA induced significantly (P < 0.05) higher whole-body protein and lipid relative to the untreated groups. The condition factor improved significantly (P < 0.05) in the BAA-treated dietary groups. The fillet percentage displayed a direct correlation and the frame percentage a negative correlation with BAA concentration in the diets. The results indicate that the BAA, salbutamol, was effective in producing growth enhancement, improved body composition (higher protein and lower lipid accretion) and efficient nutrient utilization at the 3 mg kg⁻¹ dietary incorporation level and thus has a potential for application in formulated diets for the Indian major carp, rohu, under culture conditions.     

Use of different microbial probiotics in the diet of rohu,Labeo rohita fingerlings: effects on growth,nutrient digestibility and retention,digestive enzyme activities and intestinal microflora

Six iso‐nitrogenous (350 g protein kg^?1) and iso‐caloric (4100 kcal kg^?1) diets with or without probiotics supplementation namely T₁ (Basal feed (BF) without probiotics; control), T₂ (BF + Bacillus subtilis and Lactococcus lactis), T₃ (BF + L. lactis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae), T₄ (BF + B. subtilis and S. cerevisiae), T₅ (BF + B. subtilis, L. lactis and S. cerevisiae) and T₆ (BF + heat‐killed bacteria of B. subtilis, L. lactis and S. cerevisiae) were fed to Labeo rohita fingerlings (6.0 ± 0.06 g) for 60 days in triplicate tanks (30 fish per tank). In all probiotic‐supplemented diets, the probiotic concentration was maintained at 10¹¹ cfu kg^?1 feed. After 60 days of culture, the fish fed combination of three probiotics at equal proportion (T₅) had higher (P < 0.05) growth, protein efficiency ratio, nutrient retention and digestibility and lower (P > 0.05) feed conversion ratio over other treatment groups. Total heterotrophic bacterial population in intestine was drastically reduced on 15th and 30th days of sampling than the initial value (0 day of sampling) for T₃, T₄ and T₅ groups. Except T₆, the gut colonization of respective probiotics, which were supplemented through the diets, was also increased up to 30 days of culture of fish and thereafter remained constant.     

Effect of trehalose on the gel-forming ability,state of water and myofibril denaturation of horse mackerel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trachurus japonicus</Emphasis> surimi during frozen storage

The cryoprotective effects of trehalose on fish myofibrillar protein were compared with those of sucrose, glucose and sorbitol. The frozen surimi with trehalose exhibited significantly higher Ca²⁺-ATPase activity through-out the storage periods, resulting in higher gel-forming ability than that of without trehalose. The amount of unfrozen water was significantly increased in the surimi upon addition of trehalose at any concentrations tested. The findings suggest that trehalose constructed bound water molecules in protein structure, consequently suppressed freeze-induced denaturation of protein and maintained gel-forming ability. An addition of 5.0% to 7.5% concentration of trehalose showed threshold behavior to increase the amount of unfrozen water and to prevent freeze-induced denaturation of protein. The effects of trehalose were almost similar to those of other sugars.     

摄食对大口黑鲈消化器官蛋白酶和淀粉酶活力的影响

试验从摄食方面研究食物对大口黑鲈主要消化器官蛋白酶和淀粉酶分泌的影响,对摄食后主要消化器官蛋白酶和淀粉酶活力进行了研究。结果表明,摄食对蛋白酶活力影响:摄食后1h胃蛋白酶降低,至摄食后4 h升高到平稳水平(P>0.05);幽门盲囊蛋白酶活力摄食后开始降低,而从摄食后4 h开始升高(P<0.05);肠道蛋白酶活力摄食后1 h出现升高,摄食后4 h降到最低,10 h又升高到较大活力。摄食对淀粉酶活力影响:胃淀粉酶活力摄食后开始降低,摄食后4h又升高到最大(P<0.05);肠道淀粉酶活力摄食后开始升高,至摄食后4 h达到稳定(P>0.05);幽门盲囊淀粉酶活力在摄食后开始降低,到摄食后4h升高到较高活力,并保持到摄食后10 h;摄食后1 h肝脏淀粉酶活力便保持在较高水平(P>0.05)。     

种蛋保存条件对孵化效果的影响

在平均温度16.5℃,相对湿度75%的条件下,根据种蛋的保存时间(1～3d、4～6d、7～9d,10～12d)、放置方式(锐端向上、锐端向下)、翻蛋与否,将入孵蛋分为16个处理组,与大批量的种蛋同机孵化。实验结果表明:保存条件对种蛋孵化率起决定性影响,保存期1周内孵化率最佳,超过1周则孵化率明显下降。翻不翻蛋对种蛋孵化率的影响显著,但显著影响早期和中后期胚胎死亡率。放置方式对保存期在10d以内的种蛋受精率、受精蛋孵化率、胚胎早期死亡率、胚胎中后期死亡率没有影响;种蛋保存期超过10d时,锐端向下存放可提高孵化率。     

饲料中添加蛋白酶Aquagrow对鲤生长和蛋白质消化酶活性的影响

为考察蛋白酶Aquagrow对鲤(Cyprinus carpio L)生长和蛋白质消化酶活性的影响,在鱼粉含量为6%的基础饲料中添加175 mg/kg的蛋白酶Aquagrow,饲养平均体重为48.7 g的鲤30 d.结果显示,基础饲料组(对照组)和添加蛋白酶组的鱼体增重率分别为99.4%、105.8%,饲料系数分别为1.85、1.75,添加蛋白酶提高了鲤鱼增重率6.4个百分点(P＜　0.05),降低了饲料系数5.4%(P＜　0.05),但对鱼体肌肉水分、粗脂肪、粗蛋白含量没有显著影响(P＞0.05);对消化酶活性的测定表明,添加蛋白酶可显著提高肠道组织蛋白酶活性和肠道内容物蛋白酶活性(P＜　0.05).上述研究表明,添加蛋白酶Aquagrow可提高鲤消化道蛋白酶活性,改善鲤生长性能.     

4种金属离子对宝石鲈蛋白酶活性的影响

以酶学方法研究了K+、Na+、Mg2+、Ca2+ 在浓度为50、100、150、200、250、300 mmol/L时,对宝石鲈消化器官(胃、幽门盲囊、肝脏、前肠、中肠、后肠)蛋白酶活性的影响.试验结果表明,K+、Na+对宝石鲈消化器官蛋白酶活性具有一定的促进作用,100 mmol/L时促进作用最明显;Mg2+、Ca2+对蛋白酶活性具有抑制作用,300 mmol/L时抑制作用最大;蛋白酶在宝石鲈各消化器官的分布为前肠＞幽门盲囊＞中肠＞胃＞肝脏＞后肠.宝石鲈配合饲料中添加100 mmol/L的K+、Na+可提高其消化器官的蛋白酶活性.