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.     

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.     

Replacement of fishmeal in diets for Australian silver perch Bidyanus bidyanus (Mitchell). II. Effects of cooking on digestibility of a practical diet containing different starch products

Abstract The interactive effects of cooking and starch type on the dry matter, gross energy and protein digestibility of diets fed to fingerling silver perch were examined. Nine experimental diets were made: a reference diet either uncooked or cooked, six other diets comprising uncooked reference diet supplemented with 30% uncooked or cooked wheat, maize or potato starch and one diet comprising uncooked reference diet supplemented with 15% pregelatinized maize starch. Cooking involved autoclaving at 121 °C for 15 min. The indirect method was used to calculate apparent digestibility coefficients, and chromic oxide (1%) was used as the inert indicator. Both ingredient type and cooking influenced dry matter and gross energy digestibility of diets. All diets had significantly different digestibility coefficients in the following order (from most to least digestible): reference > wheat > maize > potato, for both dry matter and gross energy. Cooking significantly increased the apparent digestibility of diets for both dry matter and gross energy. There was no significant effect of ingredient or cooking or their interaction on protein digestibility. Dry matter and energy digestibility of the diet containing pregelatinized maize starch were significantly higher than for diets containing cooked or uncooked starch products. Ingredient digestibility followed the same trend as diet digestibility. The results from this study indicate that the successful use of starch in practical diets for silver perch is dependent on the origin and processing of the starch. The significant benefits of cooking in the reference diet suggest that pelleted diets should be cooked (e.g. steam conditioned or extruded).     

Design and performance of a recirculating aquaculture system for oyster larval culture

The major objective of this study was to introduce a newly designed recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) for oyster (Crassostrea angulata) larval culture. The system includes a culture tank, a suspended circular inlet‐pipe, an upwelling aeration pipe, combined “banjo” sieves and a bioreactor chamber containing microalgae life keeping installation. The system was designed to resolve three problems: (i) stranding of larvae caused by water level changes and aeration, (ii) physical clogging of the screens and also (iii) deterioration of diet microalgae. The culture tank, “banjo” sieve size, water flow rate and light intensity for maintaining microalgae activity were all designed according to the pattern of larval movement and feeding behaviour. Results of this study showed the best average SGR for larval length was 6.36%/d (9.5 μm/d) and survival rate was 80%, with initial rearing density of 50 larvae/ml, indicating the problems above were fully resolved. Consequently, the system is fit for larval culture in mass production of oysters.     

Variability of the nitrifying bacteria in the biofilm and water column of a recirculating aquaculture system for tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) production

The aim of this study was to evaluate variability of nitrifying bacterial community in the biofilm and in the water of a recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) in a tilapia farming in order to determine if nitrification process is dependent, or not, of nitrifying bacteria abundance. Biofilm and water samples were collected periodically for 30 days and analysed with the fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) technique, used to quantify ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite‐oxidizing bacteria (NOB). Ammonia presented the peak in the first week, while the nitrite's maximum was recorded in the second week. Nitrate increased steadily, indicating nitrification activity. Total bacterial abundance in biofilm increased continuously, while in water, it did not change significantly. In the biofilm, number of AOB was high at beginning, decreased after few days and increased again following augment of ammonia. Number of NOB also showed an increase in abundance in biofilm following the increment of nitrite and nitrate. In water, AOB and NOB did not show major variability. Relative abundance of nitrifying bacteria represented more than 30% of total bacteria in biofilm at beginning of the experiment. Their contribution decreased to >3% in last days. It indicates that nitrifying bacteria are biofilm colonizers, and that their activity seems to be directly related to the concentration of nitrogen compounds. However, contribution of nitrifying bacteria did not vary much along the time. We may conclude that the biofilm‐nitrifying bacteria plays major role in nitrification process in RAS and that the activity of these organisms is dependent of their abundance in response to the concentration of nitrogen compounds.     

Size‐related oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion of Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) reared in a recirculating system

Oxygen consumption (OC) and ammonia excretion rates (AE) of perch were measured under commercial‐like conditions (temperature 23.3 °C) in both fed (F) and feed‐deprived groups (D). Measurements were taken in triplicate in six sized batches of perch ranging from 44.8 to 336.2 g. The mean daily OC was 288.3–180.6 mg O₂ kg^?1 h^?1 for group F fish ranging in size from 44.8 to 279.4 g body weight. The mean daily AE expressed as total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) was 13.8–5.2 mg TAN kg^?1 h^?1 in the same groups. Daily peaks of OC in group F perch were observed 6 h after the onset of feeding for each size group with relatively stable values up to the end of feeding. Peaks of daily AE in group F perch were observed 10 h after the onset of feeding in each size group, with a rapid decrease up to 16 h after onset. In group D, OC was 181.1–110.5 mg O₂ kg^?1 h^?1 in the weight range 57.9–336.2 g. The daily mean AE was 1.7–0.5 TAN kg^?1 h^?1 in this group. No dramatic peaks of OC and AE were observed in group D perch.     

Depletion of florfenicol amine in tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) maintained in a recirculating aquaculture system following Aquaflor®‐medicated feed therapy

Aquaflor^® [50% w w^?1 florfenicol (FFC)], is approved for use in freshwater‐reared warmwater finfish which include tilapia Oreochromis spp. in the United States to control mortality from Streptococcus iniae. The depletion of florfenicol amine (FFA), the marker residue of FFC, was evaluated after feeding FFC‐medicated feed to deliver a nominal 20 mg FFC kg^?1 BW d^?1 dose (1.33× the label use of 15 mg FFC kg^?1 BW d^?1) to Nile tilapia O. niloticus and hybrid tilapia O. niloticus × O. aureus held in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) at production‐scale holding densities. Florfenicol amine concentrations were determined in fillets taken from 10 fish before dosing and from 20 fish at nine time points after dosing (from 1 to 240 h post‐dosing). Water samples were assayed for FFC before, during and after the dosing period. Parameters monitored included daily feed consumption and biofilter function (levels of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate). Mean fillet FFA concentration decreased from 13.77 μg g^?1 at 1‐h post dosing to 0.39 μg g^?1 at 240‐h post dosing. Water FFC concentration decreased from a maximum of 1400 ng mL^?1 at 1 day post‐dosing to 847 ng mL^?1 at 240 h post‐dosing. There were no adverse effects noted on fish, feed consumption or biofilter function associated with FFC‐medicated feed administration to tilapia.     

Comparative study of the culturable microbiota present in two different rearing systems,flow‐through system (FTS) and recirculation system (RAS), in a great scallop hatchery

A comparison of the culturable microbiota present in the different compartments of a great scallop (Pecten maximus) hatchery with two experimental production systems, FTS and RAS, throughout a cycle of larval rearing was carried out. All isolates obtained from broodstock gonads, larvae, tank water, biofilm, microalgae, UV‐treated water and biofilter in both systems at three sampling times were characterized by biochemical tests and identified by sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Some of the genera were found to be exclusive of broodstock gonads, such as Sinobacterium, Kordia or Microbulbifer, and differences between gonad microbiota before and after spawning were detected. The number of morphotypes obtained in water, larvae and biofilm was similar in both systems, as well as the behaviour of the microbial populations in almost all hatchery compartments, in which Vibrio, Neptuniibacter, Pseudoalteromonas and Shewanella were the most common genera. The diversity obtained was analysed using the principal component analysis (PCA) and Fisher's exact test, showing that the microbial communities present in the common compartments between FTS and RAS did not significantly differ. These results suggest that, at least from a microbiological point of view, the recirculation system could be a good alternative for the production of scallop larvae.     

Density effects of silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and catla Catla catla on the production system in all‐male freshwater prawn–finfish polyculture ponds

The effects of three different combinations of silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and catla Catla catla density on the production system in all‐male freshwater prawn–finfish polyculture ponds were evaluated in triplicate. The stocking density of silver carp and catla, respectively, were maintained at 2000 and 500 ha^?1 in treatment SC₂₀₀₀C₅₀₀, 1500 and 1000 ha^?1 in treatment SC₁₅₀₀C₁₀₀₀ and 1000 and 1500 ha^?1 in treatment SC₁₀₀₀C₁₅₀₀. Male freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii and small fish mola Amblypharyngodon mola densities were fixed in all treatments at 12 000 and 20 000 ha^?1 respectively. Management practices were same for all treatments. Blue‐clawed male prawns were harvested twice during the 122‐day culture at 15‐day intervals before the final harvest. Plankton and macro‐benthos abundance and water quality parameters (except transparency and chlorophyll a) did not vary significantly (P>0.05) among treatments. Mean final weights of both silver carp and catla were decreased with the increasing of their own stocking density. The treatment SC₁₅₀₀C₁₀₀₀ resulted in 25–32% increased net production of silver carp plus catla (461 kg ha^?1) and 20–21% increased net production of all species combined (874 kg ha^?1) as compared with the other treatments, although the differences in production of prawn and mola among treatments were not significant.     

Growth,digestive enzymes activities,serum biochemical parameters and antioxidant status of juvenile genetically improved farmed tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared at different stocking densities in in‐pond raceway recirculating culture system

The feeding trial was conducted in 80 days to assess the effects of stoking densities on growth, digestive enzymes activities, serum biochemical parameters and antioxidant status of juvenile genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT, Oreochromis niloticus) reared in in‐pond raceway recirculating culture system (IPRS). Fish (initial body weight: 6.25 ± 0.32g ) were randomly allotted to six in‐pond raceways (22 × 5 × 2.5 m) stocked at three different stocking densities: low stocking density (LSD, 0.28 kg/m³), medium stocking density (MSD, 0.57kg /m³) and high stocking density (HSD, 0.85 kg /m³). The results indicated that no significant differences were observed in final body weight, weight gain and specific growth rate of GIFT reared at different stocking densities on day 20 (p > 0.05). Fish reared in the HSD group showed poor growth than those reared in the LSD and MSD groups on day 50, but fish reared in the MSD and HSD groups showed poor growth than those reared in the LSD group on day 80. There were no significant differences found in digestive enzyme activities, serum cortisol, lysozyme and superoxide dismutase (SOD) content, hepatic catalase (CAT), total SOD, total antioxidant capacity (T‐AOC) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) content among fish reared at different densities treatments (p > 0.05). Fish reared in the HSD group exhibited significant higher red blood cell number, haematocrit and glucose (GLU) contents on day 80 (p < 0.05). In brief, under this trial conditions, high stocking densities (0.57 kg/m³) resulted in decrease in growth, and GIFT might have an adaptation capability to crowding stress without a change in antioxidant activity, some physiological and immune parameters.     

Grow‐out culture of abalone Haliotis tuberculata coccinea Reeve,fed land‐based IMTA produced macroalgae,in a combined fish/abalone offshore mariculture system: effect of stocking density

Haliotis tuberculata coccinea has been identified as a target species for European aquaculture development, in order to fulfil the rising demand for abalone. The effects of different stocking densities on the growth performance, feed utilization and survival of two different initial size groups (30 and 40 mm) of abalones, during the final grow‐out to cocktail/market size (45–60 mm), were determined over a 6‐month period. Trials were performed in abalone cages installed in a commercial open‐sea cages fish farm. Animals were fed the red algae Gracilaria cornea and the green one Ulva rigida, both obtained from a land‐based integrated multi‐trophic aquaculture system. Survival rates were very high (94–98%) regardless the density employed. Sustained high linear growth was recorded both in shell and weight. However, a 17–19% reduction in weight gain was obtained by doubling the initial stocking density, suggesting a higher competition for space or food. Nevertheless, the high growth performance (70–94   μm day^?1; 250–372% weight gain) and survival attained, even at high densities, denoted the suitability of the offshore mariculture system as well as the biofilter produced macroalgae for grow‐out culture of H. tuberculata coccinea that overall could reach cocktail/commercial size in only 18–22 months.     

Spawning induction and seed production of Eastern little tuna,Euthynnus affinis (Cantor, 1849), in the post‐ and pre‐spawning seasons by hormonal treatment in a semi‐closed recirculation system with elevated temperature

We previously established a method for spawning induction in Eastern little tuna (ELT) Euthynnus affinis (Cantor, 1849) by administering a gonadotropin‐releasing hormone analog (GnRHa) during the natural spawning season in Japan (August–October). In order to establish seed production of ELT in the off‐spawning season, we first conducted three spawning induction trials by GnRHa administration from October 2011 to January 2012 using ELT broodstock (2 years old; three females and four males) maintained in a 10‐m³ tank with a semi‐closed recirculation system and static elevated temperature. Average water temperature and daily egg production in three trials lasting 11–15 days were 27.0 ± 0.09°C and 268 173 eggs (Trial 1), 27.0 ± 0.11°C and 277 9098 eggs (Trial 2), and 25.5 ± 0.39°C and 291 113 eggs (Trial 3) respectively. Mean fertilization rate and mean hatching rate were 70.4% and 60.5% (Trial 1), 83.9% and 79.6% (Trial 2), and 62.5% and 57.4% (Trial 3) respectively. We also succeeded in producing ELT larvae in the pre‐spawning season (April–July), although the quantity and quality of larvae produced were inferior to those produced in other calendar months. In trials involving periodic GnRHa administration during the off‐spawning seasons, hatched larvae were obtained in the 10‐m³ tank after six of nine administrations in the 2011–2012 off‐spawning season and in 16 of 19 administrations in the 2012–2013 off‐spawning season. The findings of this study demonstrated that hormonal treatment and thermal control could be used to extend the spawning period in ELT, potentially allowing larval production in the post‐ and pre‐spawning seasons.     

Evaluation of limb autotomy as a promising strategy to improve production performances of mud crab (Scylla olivacea) in the soft‐shell farming system

Soft‐shell crab, a newly moulted crab having non‐calcified and hydrated soft exoskeleton, farming has been increasing tremendously in recent years throughout the world due to its high market price and consumer preferences. However, high aggressiveness and cannibalistic behaviour of mud crab limit its culture to an individual chamber system which ultimately makes the soft‐shell mud crab farming space and labour‐intensive. Therefore, the aim of this study was to improve the efficiency of soft‐shell crab production by autotomy of the claw and/or walking legs to reduce the moulting duration and intensify the culture system through double stocking in the existing individual chamber culture system. To achieve our objectives, a series of experiment were conducted at both indoor and on‐farm levels by removing the claw and/or walking legs of Scylla olivacea for two consecutive moulting cycles. Results showed that both claw ablation significantly (p < .01) shortened the moulting duration and increased the carapace width, weight gain, specific growth rate, feeding efficiency and yield parameter compared to the non‐ablated crabs more prominently at 1st moulting than the 2nd moulting in both indoor and on‐farm trials. Ablation of all walking legs while keeping the claw intact did not significantly influence (p > .05) the moulting duration and carapace width, but significantly (p < .01) improved the specific growth rate, weight gain, feeding efficiency and yield parameters at 1st moulting compared to the non‐ablation and unilateral three walking leg ablation groups. However, ablation of all appendages (both claw and walking legs) showed significant (p < .01) improvements of carapace width, weight gain, specific growth rate, feeding efficiency and yield parameters, and shortened the moulting duration up to 23 days from 34 days during 1st moulting and up to 27 days from 40 days at 2nd moulting. The survivals of different autotomized mud crabs were statistically non‐significant (p > .05) to the non‐autotomized crabs in various indoor and on‐farm trials. Besides improving the production performances, ablation of bilateral claw and all appendages allowed to double the stocking density in the existing individual chamber‐based soft‐shell crab farming that enhanced the production about threefold higher than the existing individual chamber‐based culture system. Finally, our results suggest that autotomy could be a promising technology for the commercial farming of soft‐shell mud crab in near future.