分级对银鲫生长和个体大小差异的影响

在室内水槽进行12周的饲养实验以检验分级对银鲫生长和鱼群内个体大小差异的影响。用隔网将实验水槽分为两部分,每个水槽内放养10尾大鱼（体重8.0~9.0 g）和10尾小鱼（体重6.5~7.5 g）,分级时将个体大小相近的10尾鱼分布在隔网同一侧。实验中,3组鱼分别隔1周、2周或4周分级1次,1组鱼不进行分级作为对照。鱼摄食率和生长率随分级间隔时间缩短而降低。实验结束时,隔1周分级1次的鱼体重低于对照组,隔4周分级1次的鱼体重与对照组无显著差异。实验结束时被分级的鱼群中大鱼体重的变异系数高于小鱼,表明大鱼对分级操作更敏感。本实验结果表明,分级未能明显提高银鲫生长速度和降低鱼群内个体大小的差异程度。     

Effects of steam pelleting or extrusion on digestibility and performance of silver perch Bidyanus bidyanus

The effects of different processing techniques on apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) and performance of silver perch Bidyanus bidyanus were evaluated. Results of a factorial digestibility trial, in which three diets (SP35, 95LC1 and 95LC2) and three processing methods (cold pelleted, steam pelleted and extruded) were evaluated, indicated that extrusion, but not steam conditioning, significantly improved ADCs of dry matter (DM) and energy. ADCs of DM and energy of cold‐pelleted diets were statistically similar to steam‐pelleted diets, and ADCs of nitrogen were unaffected by processing method. No interaction was found between diet type and processing method for DM, energy or nitrogen ADCs. A performance trial indicated that feed intake, weight gain and specific growth rate of fish fed steam‐pelleted diets was greater than those of fish fed extruded diets. Feed conversion and digestible protein efficiency was better in fish fed extruded diets. The results indicated that extruded diets were better utilized than steam‐pelleted diets; however, voluntary intake of extruded diets may have been limited. Fish fed cold‐pelleted SP35 exhibited inferior performance compared with fish fed steam‐pelleted or extruded SP35. Reduced performance of fish fed this diet may relate to poor utilization of digestible protein or reduced palatability. Diets for silver perch with similar formulations to SP35 and 95LC2 should be steam pelleted.     

Effects of genetic strain and holding facility on the characteristics of alkaline phosphatase and brush border enzymes in silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus)

The activity of the enzymes located in the digestive tract (pyloric caeca and intestine) in two strains and F₁ crosses of the Australian freshwater fish silver perch [Murray River (M) and Cataract Dam (C)] was evaluated. The effect of the fish holding system (cages or ponds) on the activity of alkaline phosphatase (AP) and the brush border enzymes: maltase, leucine amino peptidase (LAP) and γ‐glutamyl transferase (γ‐GT) was examined. The enzymatic activity was tested in three intestinal sections: the pyloric caeca, upper and lower intestine. All the tested enzyme activities were influenced by an interaction between the intestinal section and the strain or cross of silver perch. For fish maintained in ponds, there were two distinct enzymatic activity patterns, one for the pure strains (C × C and M × M) and one for the crosses (C × M and M × C). Significantly higher (P<0.05) enzymatic activities of the crosses compared with the pure strains were particularly noticeable in the pyloric caeca. In fish held in cages, there was a significantly higher (P<0.05) enzymatic activity in the pyloric caeca of the C × C strain. The total enzymatic activities in the fish reared in the ponds were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those in the fish held in cages. The results of the present investigation confirm that the different genetic background of the silver perch in the Murray River and in the Cataract Dam influences the activity of the brush border digestive enzymes. This activity also varies between maintenance systems.     

Evaluation of silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus, Mitchell) nutritional requirements during grow-out with high and low protein diets at two feeding levels

Silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus, Mitchell) of 65 g average weight were reared at high density under controlled conditions on diets containing 24.8% and 40.6% protein. Diets were fed at 2% or 4% of the fish biomass day^?1. Both protein concentrations and feeding level of the diet influenced growth and proximate composition of the fish at the end of the 50‐day growth trial. Energy requirement for maintenance for these fish was found to be 77 cal BW^?0.8 and for each unit of energy retained 3.78 cal BW^?0.8 needed to be supplied, and for each gram of protein retained per metabolic body weight 5.04 g were required. The results indicate that it is possible to obtain the same weight increment when feeding a 24.8% protein diet at a level of 4% body weight day^?1 as compared with only 2% body weight day^?1 of a 40.6% protein diet. This study indicates that the nutritional requirements for early grow‐out are similar to those found in a previous study with juvenile silver perch and adds information concerning the required relationships between dietary amino acids. The results provide information required for further refinement of nutrition for this species.     

Survival and growth of silver catfish larvae exposed to different water pH

The objective of this study was to determine the influence ofwater pH (5.5, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, and 8.5) on survival and growth ofsilver catfsh (Rhamdia quelen) larvae. Larvae were obtained frominduced spawning in November and maintained under controlledconditions of 25 (1) °C using a water re-use system incontinuously aerated 40 L polyethylene tanks (350 larvae/tank).Larvae were fed until satiation six times a day. At days 0, 7, 14,and 21 and after yolk absorption, 10 larvae from each group wererandomly chosen to evaluate length, weight, and specific growthrate (SGR). Length, weight, survival, and biomass at the end of 21days were significantly higher at pH 8.0 and 8.5. As expected,specific growth rate decreased with time. These results suggest that 8.0–8.5 isthe best pH range for survival and growth of the larvae of thisspecies.     

Physical characteristics,and proximate composition of oocytes,liver and muscle of wild caught and tank-reared Macquarie perch

Macquarie perch (Macquaria australasica) is a freshwater percichthyid endemic to south-eastern Australia. In view of its conservation status (indeterminate), and its importance as a sport fish, natural stocks are replenished through a breeding programme using mature stock taken from the wild each year.This paper is the first of a series of investigations instigated to understand the underlying causes of the lack of response of Macquarie perch, caught from the wild and spawned and then tankreared for a year, to hypophysation techniques. In this paper, results of physical characteristics, proximate composition and ovarian histology of wild-caught and tank-reared fish (injected with salmon GnRHa and non-injected) are presented. Oocyte diameter distribution patterns indicate that Macquarie perch spawn once each year, and that in tank-reared fish oocyte maturation is incomplete with only a small proportion of oocytes reaching maturation. The mean (sd) gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indices of wild fish were 11.25 (2.38) and 0.59 (0.10) and that of tank-reared fish were 4.84 (0.70) and 1.44 (0.09) respectively. These two parameters differed significantly (p<0.05) in the two groups of fish.Major differences also existed in the proximate composition of the liver and the way the liver components responded to GnRHa injection. The percent (sd) protein, lipid and ash by dry weight in the liver of wild injected fish were 57.02 (0.66), 30.63 (1.22) and 8.24 (0.05) respectively while in the liver of tank-reared uninjected fish these values were 30.87 (1.36), 24.59 (1.18) and 6.43 (0.13) respectively. When expressed as an absolute amount or an amount kg^–1 body weight, all of moisture, protein, lipid, ash and nitrogen free extract were greater in tank-reared than wild fish. No significant differences were observed between wild and tank-reared fish in the composition of the body musculature or the oocytes.     

Heterosis in fingerlings from a diallel cross between two wild strains of silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus)

Cross-breeding was investigated as a strategy to improve performance of the Australian native freshwater fish, silver perch ( Bidyanus bidyanus Mitchell) through the exploitation of heterosis during the fingerling phase of production. Growth, and mid and best parent heterosis of two wild strains, Cataract Dam (C_♂× C_♀) and Murray River (M_♂× M_♀) and their reciprocal crosses (C_♂× M_♀ and M_♂× C_♀) were evaluated in cages and ponds through summer, and in tanks in a re-circulating aquaculture system during winter. The M × C cross grew significantly faster than the reciprocal cross and pure strains in cages and tanks, had the lowest coefficients of variation of weight and length and was 20.9% and 16.0% heavier than mid-parent and best-parent average, respectively, when grown in ponds. Differences in growth between the reciprocal crosses were also evident, with C × M expressing significantly less heterosis in cages and tanks. Faster growth of M × C was attributed to greater appetite; however, at sizes approaching 250 g this feeding vigour diminished. The results of this study suggest that use of the M × C cross has the potential to reduce the length of the culture period and lower costs of silver perch production.     

不同饲料对银鲳幼鱼增重率、肝脏脂酶及抗氧化酶活性的影响

利用营养学与生物化学的方法,研究分析了不同饲料对银鲳幼鱼增重率、饲料系数、肝脏脂酶及抗氧化酶活性的影响。试验共设4组不同饲料,依次为饲料1(新鲜鱼肉糜)、饲料2(新鲜鱼肉糜+饲料)、饲料3(新鲜鱼肉糜+饲料+蛏子肉糜)和饲料4(新鲜鱼肉糜+饲料+蛏子肉糜+桡足类)。试验用银鲳幼鱼的平均体重为(4.80±0.11)g,每组饲料设3重复,试验周期为9周。研究结果显示,不同饲料可显著影响银鲳的增重率,各饲料组中以饲料1组的增重率最低,并显著低于其它各饲料组;饲料4组的增重率最高,并显著高于饲料2、3组的增重率(P<0.05)。饲料系数以饲料1组最高,且显著高于其它3组饲料组;饲料2、3、4组饲料系数间并无显著性差异(P>0.05)。饲料1组肝脂酶与总脂酶活性均显著低于其它3组饲料组(P<0.05),但饲料2、3、4组间肝脏脂蛋白脂酶、肝脂酶和总脂酶活性均未有显著性差异(P>0.05)。各组间肝脏超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)与谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-PX)活性均未有显著性差异(P>0.05),但均以饲料1组最低、饲料4组最高;饲料1、2、3组间肝脏过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性未有显著性差异(P>0.05),但饲料4组CAT活性显著高于饲料1组的CAT活性(P<0.05)。分析结果表明,单纯利用鱼肉糜作为饲料不利于银鲳的生长;饲料中添加桡足类不但有助于促进银鲳的生长,也可提高其抗氧化能力。     

温度和体质量对军曹鱼生长及氮收支的影响

为调查军曹鱼生长和氮收支与温度和体质量的关系,采用鱼类生物能量学的原理和方法,开展了不同温度(21、27和33 ℃)和体质量(10、20、50和100 g)对军曹鱼生长和氮收支的影响研究,并建立了生长——温度/体质量关系及不同温度和体质量条件下的氮收支方程。结果显示:(1)温度和体质量对军曹鱼生长影响显著,且两者之间存在交互作用。军曹鱼在实验的最高水温(33 ℃)及最小体质量(10 g)时生长最快,在实验的最低水温(21 ℃)及最大体质量(100 g)时生长最慢。(2)实验的体质量范围内,军曹鱼特定生长率均随水温升高呈显著增长趋势;在实验的温度范围内,军曹鱼特定生长率随体质量增加呈减速下降趋势,两者间的关系采用幂函数定量描述。多元回归分析表明,模型LnSGR=a+bLnW+cT+dT²+eTLnW能较好地拟合军曹鱼特定生长率、温度及体质量间的关系。(3)军曹鱼摄食氮、排粪氮、排泄氮和生长氮受温度和体质量影响显著,随温度升高而增加,随体质量增加趋于减少。(4)不同温度和体质量组军曹鱼氮收支方程存在差异,且温度对氮收支方程的影响大于体质量。对同一体质量组,水温27和33 ℃时生长氮占食物氮的比例明显高于水温21 ℃时,而水温27和33 ℃时代谢氮占食物氮的比例则明显低于水温21 ℃时;对同一温度组,军曹鱼氮收支方程变幅较小。(5)在所有氮收支方程中,摄食氮用于排泄的比例大于68%。研究表明,在实验的温度和体质量范围内,环境温度偏低不利于军曹鱼生长;排泄是军曹鱼氮支出的最主要途径;水温27~33 ℃时军曹鱼氮收支方程相对恒定。     

Effects of formalin on water quality and parasitic monogeneans on silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus Mitchell) in earthen ponds

Infestations of parasitic monogenean trematodes (Lepidotrema bidyana and Gyrodactylus sp.) on freshwater silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus Mitchell) in earthen ponds were treated with formalin (37% formaldehyde). Concentrations of 30 and 40 mg L^?1 formalin were effective, but fish in ponds treated with 20 or 25 mg L^?1 remained infested. At temperatures of 24.1–26.9°C, concentrations of 30 or 40 mg L^?1 formalin caused dissolved oxygen (DO) to decline from 10.1–11.9 to 3.0–3.3 and 1.2–1.7 mg L^?1, respectively, within 36–42 h of treatment. In addition, pH declined from 7.2–8.4 to 6.3–6.7, within 36 h and turbidity decreased over 48 h. In the ponds where DO was 1.2–1.7 mg L^?1, silver perch showed signs of severe stress, but continuous aeration (10 hp ha^?1) for 3 days and inflow of well‐oxygenated water for 6–8 h prevented mortalities. At temperatures of 13.2–15.7°C, concentrations of 30 or 40 mg L^?1 formalin caused DO to decline from 9.0–10.0 to 6.0–8.1 mg L^?1 and pH from 7.0–7.3 to 5.9–6.6 within 72 h. Total ammonia‐nitrogen increased over 72 h in ponds treated with 30 or 40 mg L^?1 formalin. Fish became re‐infested with L. bidyana in all ponds within 30 days of treatment. A concentration of 30 mg L^?1 formalin is recommended as a treatment for monogeneans on silver perch in ponds, but aeration is necessary to maintain adequate water quality at higher temperatures.     

Use of formalin and copper to control ichthyophthiriosis in the Australian freshwater fish silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus Mitchell)

Infestations of the protozoan parasite, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, cause the serious disease ichthyophthiriosis in freshwater fish throughout the world. Formalin is a recommended treatment for ichthyophthiriosis in the Australian fish silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus Mitchell), but the disease is difficult to control in ponds, particularly at low water temperatures. Experiments were carried out to develop an improved treatment regime for formalin and to evaluate copper as a therapeutant. Silver perch fingerlings infested with I. multifiliis were stocked into 55 L aquaria at temperatures of 14.8–17.6 °C and alkalinities of 70–110 mg L^?1. Formalin (34–38% formaldehyde) or copper (24.5% copper sulphate) were added to the aquaria and then monitored and readjusted to nominal concentrations daily. A concentration of 30 mg L^?1 formalin controlled ichthyophthiriosis, but fish treated with 20 mg L^?1 remained infested with theronts and trophonts on day 17; survival at both concentrations was 100%. A concentration of 10 mg L^?1 formalin did not control ichthyophthiriosis and all fish were dead from the infestation by day 17. Fish treated with 0.1 or 0.2 mg L^?1 copper were free of theronts and trophonts by days 17 and 14, respectively, and survival was 100%. Survival at 0.05 mg L^?1 copper was 100%, but fish remained infested. At 0.25 mg L^?1 copper, survival was 82.5% and there were no theronts or trophonts on gill and skin tissues of fingerlings by day 14. There was total mortality of fish treated with 0.5 or 1.0 mg L^?1 copper suggesting these concentrations are toxic to silver perch. All fish in infested‐control treatments died. In earthen ponds containing silver perch, 0.2 mg L^?1 copper was depleted to below 0.1 mg L^?1 within 24 h, and concentrations of 25–38 mg L^?1 formalin were depleted to below 15 mg L^?1 within 48 h. Treatment regimes involving daily applications of formalin or copper controlled ichthyophthiriosis in silver perch in earthen ponds at costs of $US466.37 and $US65.58 hectare^?1 day^?1 respectively. This study has developed a new formalin‐treatment regime for the control of ichthyophthiriosis, and demonstrated that copper sulphate is a potential therapeutant for this serious disease of silver perch.     

Rates of oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion of juvenile Eurasian perch Perca fluviatilis L.

The impact of feeding, fish size (body weight from 18.5 to 56.5 g) and water temperature (20 and 23 °C) on oxygen consumption (OC, mg O₂ kg^–1 h^–1) and ammonia excretion (AE, mg TAN kg^–1 h^–1) was studied in Eurasian perch held in recirculation systems. OC for both fed and feed-deprived (3 days) fish was higher at 23 °C (278.5 and 150.1 mg O₂ kg^–1 h^–1) than at 20 °C (249.3 and 135.0 mg O₂ kg^–1 h^–1; P < 0.01). AEs for both fed and feed-deprived fish were also significantly higher at 23 °C than at 20 °C (P < 0.001). Water temperature and fish size had a significant impact on the oxygen:feed ratio (OFR, kg O₂ kg^–1 feed fed day^–1) and ammonia:feed ratio (AFR, kg TAN kg^–1 feed fed day^–1; P < 0.001). Their average values at temperatures of 20 and 23 °C were 0.17 and 0.19 kg O₂ kg^–1 feed fed day^–1 and 0.009 and 0.011 kg TAN kg^–1 feed fed day^–1, respectively.     

Effects of successive size grading on the growth of juvenile European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) at three temperatures

Juvenile European sea bass from the same fish stock were selected by successive size grading processes using 2, 3 and 4 mm bar graders at 79, 96 and 99 days post hatching, thus forming three groups (n=300) consisting of similar‐sized fish that differed by time of each group formation. The growth patterns of fish groups were studied at three temperatures during 5 weeks of rearing. Three‐way anova followed by the Tukey multiple comparison test (P<0.05) showed a high dependence of growth on the temperature applied. The smallest size and weight of fish were detected in all groups reared at 19 °C compared with fish held at 21 and 23 °C respectively. Differences in coefficients of variation of lengths were small and insignificant between groups and temperatures. Growth in the length of sea bass juveniles during the test period was a linear function of time and no differences were observed in growth rate among groups at a particular temperature. Growth rates of fish were 0.71 ± 0.02, 0.62 ± 0.01 and 0.52 ± 0.02 mm day^?1 at 23, 21 and 19 °C respectively. These results indicated that the variations in body size of juveniles in the test period were not the result of differences in the growth potential of individuals.     

Effects of size grading on growth, survival and cheliped injuries of signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus Dana) summerlings (age 0+)

Effects of size grading and stocking density on growth and survival of 3.5‐month‐old signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus Dana) juveniles were investigated in a 3 × 2 factorial design with size group (small, large and mixed) and stocking density (25 and 200 individuals m^?2) as factors for 90 days. Carapace length and wet weight growth of the juveniles were affected by the presence or absence of other size groups, stocking density and animal size. All factors had statistically significant interactions, which make the interpretation of the results more complicated. The smaller crayfish grew faster in the absence of large animals and larger animals benefited from the presence of smaller cospecies. Increasing density decreased the growth in length and weight. Survival (82–100%) was good in all groups. Subsequently, the within population dynamics was studied by selectively removing the largest individuals (selectively removing (SR) group). Effects on growth and survival of the remaining juveniles were evaluated on 6‐month‐old P. leniusculus juveniles reared in plastic tanks (100 juveniles m^?2) for 122 days. Size distribution manipulation was performed at days 34 and 70. Juveniles in SR group grew significantly faster in comparison with a control group (RR), from which juveniles were removed randomly. Also, the survival rate was significantly higher in the SR group than in the RR group. In conclusion, size grading of juvenile P. leniusculus either at the start of the experiment or repeatedly during the experiment increased growth performance of smaller animals in length and weight.     

On size and growth in freshwater fish

Patterns of growth and size achieved in freshwater fish are examined with relation to the issues of indeterminate and determinate growth and asymptotic growth. Various authors suggest minimum, average and maximum sizes attained by fish, variously pointing to very small gobies and very large sharks, with most fish being about 150 mm long. Growth in fish is distinctive in that typically it continues throughout life, even though it becomes slower with increasing age and the onset of sexual maturity. Growth rates and size achieved by fish are highly flexible and subject to both genetic and environmental controls, so that size reached may vary with environmental variables such as water temperatures and food availability (both food abundance and prey types and sizes). Frequency distributions of 5 disparate freshwater fish faunas (Papua-New Guinea 267 species and tropical; North America 709 species and subtropical to Arctic; Australia 176 species and tropical to temperate; New Zealand and Great Britain 27 and 39 species and both warm to cool temperate) closely resemble distributions generated by the theoretical model of Hutchinson & MacArthur, and also data on diverse faunas. Frequency distributions in these faunas are closely similar, with a majority of species being small. This similarity would seem to suggest a general explanation. However, examination of the freshwater fish fauna of North America suggests that, rather than showing a predominance of large fish in the Arctic, the fauna has more large fish towards the tropics, though the proportion of large fish there is lower owing to the proliferation of small species in the tropics and a paucity of them towards the Arctic. Analysis shows a shift in the size composition of the fauna with latitude and shows that the general pattern for the whole of North America consists of a composite series of rather different patterns. This suggests that there is probably no meaningful general explanation of the overall patterns seen in these diverse and disparate faunas and that the similarity in overall size distributions between freshwater fish faunas of North America, New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand are of little ecological or evolutionary significance. The generality of Cope's rule is questionable, especially for fish, in which dwarfing and/or evolution towards smaller size are seen to be common phenomena.     

Development of a feeding strategy for silver perch, Bidyanus bidyanus (Mitchell), based on restricted rations

To develop a feeding strategy for the Australian freshwater fish silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus Mitchell), a series of eight experiments was done in 1 m³ cages in an aerated, earthen pond to determine the effects of feeding rate (% body weight) and feeding frequency (no. of feeds day^?1) on the growth and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of fingerlings and larger fish under ambient water temperatures over the range 13.8–30.6°C. Fish were fed extruded pellets of a silver perch diet containing 34% digestible protein and 14 MJ kg^?1 digestible energy. Commercial silver perch farmers were consulted about feeding practices for large fish (>500 g) and at water temperatures below 12°C, and winter feeding practices for other warmwater species were used to complete the strategy. In the feeding experiments, growth and FCR increased with increasing feeding rates to a level above which only FCR increased. Optimal feeding rates and frequencies were those which resulted in maximal growth, while minimizing effort (feeding frequency) and FCR. The highest feeding frequency required for maximal growth, including that of small fingerlings was twice (2 ×) daily, and the optimal feeding rates varied with water temperature and size of fish. The optimal daily regimes were: small fingerlings (initial mean weight, 2.0 g) 7.5% 2 × at a mean temperature of 23.3°C; fingerlings (14.9–27.7 g) 7.5% 2 × at 27.1°C, 5.0% 2 × at 23.7°C and 2.0% 1 × at 16.8°C; and large silver perch (162.5–510.6 g) 0.5% 1 × daily or 1.0% on alternate days at 15.6°C, 1.0% 1 × at 17.3°C, 3.0% 2 × at 24.1°C and 2.0% 2 × at 27.9°C. It is suggested that regimes of 0.5% 1 × daily for fingerlings (<50 g) and 0.5% 1 × on alternate days for larger fish are used at temperatures of 9–12°C, and 0.5% 3 days week^?1 and 0.5% 1 day week^?1 for fingerlings and larger fish, respectively, at 6–9°C. Feed inputs should not exceed 150 kg ha^?1 day^?1 in ponds less than 0.3 ha and 100 kg ha^?1 day^?1 in larger ponds. Our research has established a feeding strategy for silver perch based on restricted rations.     

Use of salt to control ichthyophthiriosis and prevent saprolegniosis in silver perch, Bidyanus bidyanus

The ciliate protozoan, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis , and the fungus, Saprolegnia parasitica , cause the diseases ichthyophthiriosis and saprolegniosis respectively. Both diseases are difficult to control and can cause high mortalities of freshwater fish, including the Australian silver perch, Bidyanus bidyanus (Mitchell). The efficacy of salt (NaCl) in controlling and preventing these diseases in silver perch was evaluated in aquaria and tanks. Low pH levels were also evaluated as a control for ichthyophthiriosis. Concentrations of 2 or 3 g L⁻¹ salt controlled infestations of I. multifiliis , and fish were free of both theronts and trophonts by day 8 at temperatures of 17.3–21.3 °C and by day 6 at 19.2–23.5 °C. Fish treated with 1 g L⁻¹ salt remained infested and all fish in a control treatment (0 g L⁻¹ salt) died. Although the mean survival rates of infested fish at pH levels of 5 or 6 were only 13.9% and 7.6%, respectively, there were no theronts or trophonts on surviving fish after 12 days. Silver perch harvested from a pond and treated with 2 or 3 g L⁻¹ salt did not become infected with S. parasitica and survival was 100%, whereas 16.6% of untreated (0 g L⁻¹ salt) fish became infected and survival was only 66.7%. A concentration of 2 g L⁻¹ NaCl is recommended for the control of ichthyophthiriosis and the prevention of saprolegniosis in silver perch held in tanks, aquaria and re-circulating aquaculture systems.     

Effects of extrusion processing on digestibility of peas, lupins, canola meal and soybean meal in silver perch Bidyanus bidyanus (Mitchell) diets

Two experiments were conducted to investigate effects of processing on apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of legumes and oilseeds for juvenile silver perch, Bidyanus bidyanus (～49 g). The first experiment evaluated interactive effects of ingredients (lupins or field peas), processing (whole seed; hulls on or hulls off) and extrusion cooking (raw or extruded) on ADCs for juvenile silver perch (～4 g fish^?1). The second experiment was a three‐fixed‐factor anova designed to evaluate interactive effects of ingredients (soybean meal or canola meal), extrusion cooking (raw or extruded) and inclusion content (30% or 50% of the diet) on ADCs for juvenile silver perch (～4 g fish^?1). Lupin protein was more digestible than that of peas (ADC for crude protein 91% vs. 85% for peas) but the organic matter was less digestible (ADC for organic matter 50% vs. 67% for peas). Dehulling lupins significantly improved ADCs for all indices (dry matter, organic matter, energy and crude protein), but extrusion had no effect because lupins do not contain starch or heat‐labile anti‐nutrients. Conversely, for starch‐rich peas that contain heat‐labile trypsin inhibitors, both dehulling and extrusion significantly improved ADCs. Digestibility of soybean meal was much higher than that of canola meal. For soybean meal, neither processing, content nor their interaction affected digestibility but extrusion improved ADCs for dry matter, organic matter and energy but there was an interaction with content. Although higher overall, digestibility for these indices declined with increasing content for extruded product while there were only minor effects of inclusion for raw product. Benefits of extrusion were attributed to reductions in anti‐nutrients, including phytic acid. For canola, there were no interactions between extrusion and content for any ADC. Increasing content reduced ADCs for crude protein, dry matter and organic matter but did not effect energy. Surprisingly, extrusion of canola also reduced digestibility for all ADCs. Dehulling improved both lupins and peas. Crude protein for all ingredients was well digested with ingredients ranked: lupins>soybean meal>peas>canola meal. Energy digestibility was best for soybean meal and worst for lupins. Extrusion greatly improved digestibility of peas and to a lesser extent soybean meal, gave no benefits to lupins and was detrimental for canola.     

Effects of feeding rate on growth, feed utilizationand body composition of a tropical bagrid catfish

A 10 week experiment was conducted to determine theeffects of feeding rate on growth, feed utilizationand body composition of the tropical bagrid catfish,Mystus nemurus. Catfish fingerlings with anaverage initial body weight of 12 g were fed apractical diet (36.2% protein, 16.5 kJ/g diet) atrates of 1, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4 or 5% of their bodyweight (BW) per day in two equal meals. Watertemperature was approximately 29 °C throughoutthe experiment. Percent weight gain increased almostlinearly with increasing feeding rates up to 2.5%BW/day beyond which no significant (P > 0.05)improvement in weight gain was observed. The specificgrowth rate of catfish fed rations of 1% BW/day was0.72%/day and this increased significantly to anaverage of 1.39%/day for catfish fed 2.5% BW/day andbeyond. Feed utilization did not differ significantly(P > 0.05) between fish fed 1.0 to 2.5%BW/day but decreased when rations were increased to3.0% BW/day and above. Feed efficiency ratio was0.79 for catfish fed 1.0% BW/day compared to a ratioof 0.27 for fish fed at 5% BW/day. Catfish fed 1.0%BW/day had the lowest condition factor, hepato- andviscerosomatic indices, but the highest carcass tobody weight ratio. These fish also had lowerproportions of whole body dry matter, lipid andprotein, carcass dry matter and lipid, and visceraldry matter and lipid than fish in other groups. Therewere no significant differences in either conditionindices or relative body composition of fish fedrations of 2.0 to 5.0% BW/day. Based on the growth,feed efficiency and body composition data obtained, afeeding rate of 2.5% BW per day is recommended forM. nemurus fingerlings raised at 29 °C.