Comparison of diet composition,feeding, growth and health of lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus L.) fed either feed blocks or pelleted commercial feed

Two duplicate groups of individually tagged lumpfish (mean initial weight: 21.5 ± 3.2 g) were fed either a commercially available lumpfish feed or feed blocks for a period of 123 days. The aim was to evaluate and compare the effects of these feed types on growth, cataract development and histopathology in lumpfish. There were significant differences in growth rates between the groups with fish fed pelleted feed having the highest growth rates. The development of cataracts was significantly different with fish fed pelleted feed having a cataract prevalence of 87% at the end of the study period whilst fish fed with feed blocks had 10% prevalence. The results of the histological examination undertaken in this study showed overall small differences between the two dietary treatments. In some individuals in groups receiving both diets, there was mild to moderate expansion of the lamina propria with tissue most likely to represent fibrous tissue with scattered leucocytes. Overall, the findings of the present study show that lumpfish will readily graze from feed blocks and although growth is lower the prevalence of cataract is greatly reduced using feed blocks.     

Effects of feeding frequency on growth,feed efficiency and body composition of juveniles Brazilian sardine,Sardinella brasiliensis (Steindacher 1879)

The Brazilian sardine is the most important fishery resource in Brazil. Their production has declined along the last 30 years due the overfishing, climatic and oceanographic phenomena. This study was carried out to determine the optimal feeding frequency for juvenile Brazilian sardine based on growth, feed efficiency, feed intake and body composition. Six feeding frequencies of one, two, three, four, five and six times a day were evaluated in triplicate tanks for 50 days. Fish with initial mean weight of 3.29 ± 0.56 g were fed daily to apparent satiation. The results showed that fish fed once daily had lower body weight gain, specific growth rate and condition factor (P < 0.05) compared with other treatments. The feed efficiency ratio in fish fed once daily was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those fed two or more times a day. No significant differences were observed in the coefficient of variation in body weight (P > 0.05) among the treatments. Feed intake was directly proportional to the feeding frequency. Fish fed once daily showed lower hepatosomatic and mesenteric fat indices (P < 0.05) than the other treatments. Neither protein nor ash content of fish were significantly (P > 0.05) affected by feeding frequency. However, the lipid content increased with feeding frequency. The results suggest that the optimal feeding frequency for juvenile Brazilian sardine is at least twice daily.     

Effect of feeding frequency on growth performance,blood metabolites,proximate composition and digestive enzymes of Lebranche mullet (Mugil liza) Juveniles

This study verified the effects of feeding frequency on growth, blood metabolites, digestive enzyme activities (alkaline protease, acid protease, amylase and lipase) and proximate composition of Lebranche mullet juveniles. Fish with initial weight of 13.6 ± 0.7 g were distributed in twelve tanks and fed one, three, five and seven times per day to apparent satiation for 60 days. While the final weight of fish fed only once a day attained just 15.4 ± 0.7 g, those fed five or seven times per day reached 54.0 ± 12.1 and 55.9 ± 6.1 g respectively. The feed consumption also increased at high frequencies, but feed efficiency was higher (76.7 ± 11.7%) when mullets were fed three times per day. In general, increasing feeding frequencies also increased blood content of metabolites (total protein, glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol), possibly due to increased intake and absorption of nutrients. The response of digestive enzymes correlated with feeding efficiency, with higher activity in fish fed three or five times per day. Concerning whole‐body proximate composition, no significant difference was observed in protein, but lipid content increased significantly with feed frequency. Based on growth performance and biochemical responses, we recommend feeding Lebranche mullet juveniles three to five times per day.     

Assessment of Compensatory Growth in Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus R. and Associated Changes in Body Condition indices

A feeding trial was undertaken to evaluate compensatory growth in channel catfish and to chronicle the changes in body condition associated with the imposed feeding strategy. Four 1200-L circular tanks were each stocked with approximately 600 fingerling channel catfish (mean initial weight 32 g). Two tanks represented control fish which were fed to apparent satiation once daily throughout the trial. The two remaining tanks of fish were unfed for 4 wk and subsequently refed daily to apparent satiation for the following 10 wk in order to elicit a compensatory growth response. Fish fed to apparent satiation during the first 4 wk of the trial had a 41% increase in body weight, while the fasted fish decreased in weight by 20%. During the subsequent refeeding period, previously unfed fish were not able to increase growth rates sufficiently to overcome weight loss imposed by the 4-wk feed restriction. However, after 8 wk of refeeding, total increase in body weight of the previously unfed fish was 179 % of initial weight and similar to that of control fish which gained 231 % of initial weight. Hepatosomatic index (HSI) and condition factor decreased rapidly during the fasting period and increased rapidly to control levels during subsequent refeeding. The intraperitoneal fat (1PF) ratio and muscle ratio responded more slowly to feed restriction with IPF ratio decreasing consistently after 2 wk feed restriction. Muscle ratio showed little effect from the 4-wk period of feed deprivation. It appears that not feeding channel catfish fingerlings for 4 wk is too long to induce a compensatory growth response that is optimal for aquaculture; however, HSI may be the index of choice for detecting when refeeding should begin to maximize compensatory growth.     

Total fish meal replacement with canola protein isolate in diets fed to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss W.)

The potential of canola protein isolate (CPI) as fish meal alternative in diets for rainbow trout was evaluated. Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) for protein from a fish meal‐based reference diet (89.2 ± 1.1%) and CPI (84.6 ± 1.8%) were determined by indirect marker method in a digestibility experiment. ADC of dietary dry matter was slightly lower for the reference diet (62.5 ± 4.7%), but not significantly different to the CPI test diet (65.9 ± 3.1%). In a subsequent growth trial, 20 fish (initial weight 31.5 ± 0.5 g) were stocked into each of 15 experimental tanks of a freshwater flow‐through system. Fish were organized in triplicate groups and received experimental diets with 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of fish meal replaced with CPI on the basis of digestible protein (designated as Control, I25, I50, I75, I100 respectively). At the end of a 70‐day feeding period, growth performance, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of treatment groups receiving diets I25, I50 or I100 were similar to the control group, while fish fed diet I75 showed significantly higher weight gain caused by improved feed conversion. The tested CPI was therefore identified to be a highly valuable fish meal alternative, not negatively affecting diet palatability, feed intake and feed efficiencies.     

Effects of three commercial diets on growth,cataract development and histopathology of lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus L.)

Three duplicate groups of individually tagged lumpfish (mean initial weight: 20.0 ± 4.0 g) were fed three commercially available diets (A, B and C) for a period of 147 days. There were significant differences in growth rates between the groups with fish fed diet A having the highest growth rates whilst fish fed diet C achieved the lowest growth. Lumpfish fed diets A and B had lower prevalence and severity of cataracts compared with fish fed diet C, suggesting a possible dietary effect on cataract, alone or in combination with other environmental factors. There was a significant difference in the degree of liver vacuolization between the three dietary treatments at the end of the study period with fish fed diets A and B showing moderate to severe vacuolization compared with liver tissue from fish fed diet C, which had milder vacuolizations. There was little or no inflammation in pyloric caeca, midgut and hindgut and similarly for epithelial necrosis or vacuolization for all three dietary treatments at the end of the study. Fish fed diet A had the longest intestinal folds whilst fish fed diet C had the shortest.     

Effects of dietary macronutrient level and feeding frequency on growth and body composition of juvenile rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli)

An 8-week feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different dietary macronutrient level and feeding frequency on the growth, feed utilization, and body composition of juvenile rockfish. Triplicate groups of fish (body weight of 4.1 g) were fed the experimental diets containing either high levels of carbohydrate (HC, 35%), lipid (HL, 13%), or protein (HP, 55%) at different feeding frequencies (twice daily, once daily, and once every 2 days). Weight gain was affected by feeding frequency but not by dietary composition. Weight gain of fish fed the diets once every 2 days was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that of other groups. Daily feed intake and energy intake were affected by both dietary composition and feeding frequency. Daily feed intake of fish fed the HC diet was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of fish fed the HL and HP diets at the same feeding frequency. Feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio were affected by both dietary composition and feeding frequency and decreased with increasing feeding frequency in the same dietary composition. Feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio of fish fed the HC diet were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those of fish fed the HL diet at the same feeding frequency. Whole-body lipid content of fish fed the HL diet was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of fish fed the HC and HP diets at the same feeding frequency. These results indicate that an increase of dietary lipid level compared with dietary carbohydrate level may have the advantage of a protein-sparing effect at same feeding frequency, and a once-daily feeding regime is more effective than twice daily or one feeding every 2 days to improve growth performance of juvenile rockfish grown from 4 to 21 g.     

Partial replacement of soybean meal with Methylobacterium extorquens single‐cell protein in feeds for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum)

A feeding trial was conducted with juvenile rainbow trout (15–16 g initial weight) to assess the effects of including single‐cell protein (SCP) produced from Methylobacterium extorquens in trout feeds. Three isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were produced: a control diet and two experimental diets containing 5% or 10% bacterial protein meal replacing soybean meal. Triplicate tanks, each containing 35 fish, were fed each diet to apparent satiation in a constant‐temperature (15°C), flow‐through tank system for 12 weeks. No statistically significant differences in final fish weight or other fish growth parameters were observed. Similarly, feed efficiency parameters showed no significant differences among groups. Nutrient retention indices (protein, fat, energy) were relatively high and similar among fish in each dietary treatment group, as were whole body proximate compositions. Fish survival was high, with a small but statistically significant increase for the 10% SCP diet. Overall, results demonstrate that SCP from M. extorquens is a safe and effective alternative protein for rainbow trout diets at the low inclusion levels tested. Slightly lower weight gain in fish fed the 10% SCP diet was largely due to lower feed intake, suggesting that adding palatability‐enhancing ingredients to feeds may allow higher levels of M. extorquens SCP to be used without compromising fish growth.     

Effects of feeding frequency and feed type on the growth,feed utilization and body composition of juvenile olive flounder,Paralichthys olivaceus

A factorial (3 × 4) feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding frequency and feed type on the growth performance, feed utilization and body proximate composition of juvenile olive flounder. Three feed types including a sinking moist pellet (MP), a sinking dry pellet (DP) and a floating extruded pellet (EP) were used. Fish (average weight, 11.1 ± 0.4 g) were randomly distributed in thirty‐six 300 L tanks in a flowthrough system. Triplicate groups (30 fish per tank) of fish were fed each feed type to visual satiation at three meals per day, two meals per day, one meal per day and one meal every 2 days for 7 weeks. At the end of the feeding trial, the survival of fish was not significantly different among the treatments. Weight gain was affected by the feeding frequency. The highest weight gain was observed in fish fed the EP at three meals per day. The daily feed intake of fish fed the MP and DP tended to be higher than that of fish fed the EP at each feeding frequency. The feed efficiency and the protein efficiency ratio of fish fed the EP were higher than those of fish fed the MP and DP. The body proximate composition of fish was altered by the feeding frequency. The crude lipid content increased with the increase in the feeding frequency. The present findings suggest that three feedings per day at visual satiation of the floating EP may be sufficient for the maximal growth performance of olive flounder grown from 11 to 60 g.     

Growth and nutrient utilisation of blackspot seabream (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pagellus bogaraveo</Emphasis>) under different feeding regimes

The growth and nutrient utilization of blackspot seabream was studied under self-feeding or hand feeding for 90 days. Groups of 31 fish with an initial body weight of 24 g were fed either by hand two times a day (09:00, and 18:00 h) to apparent satiety or by self-feeders. The 90 days of the feeding trial included two periods: an adaptation period (30 days) required to achieve a constant number of feed demands per day and a subsequent experimental period (60 days). Final body weight and daily growth index were unaffected by the feeding regimes. However, the marked reduction in voluntary feed intake associated with similar nutrient gain on the self-fed group resulted in improved nutrient efficiency and in subsequent increased protein, lipid and energy retentions compared to fish hand-fed at set hours. The self-fed group displayed depressed malic (<62%) and fatty acid synthetase (<35%) activities as well as reduced triacylglycerol plasma levels, which correlated positively with feed intake and, at some extent, with fish lipid content. These results indicate the ability of blackspot seabream to adjust their lipid metabolism according to fish feeding rhythm. No effect of feeding method was however observed on glycolytic hepatic activities or on glucose, cholesterol and insulin plasma levels. Self-feeders led to similar growth (DGI, 1.4–1.5) but better efficiency (FCR, 1.0 vs. 1.5), and hence, can be regarded as a helpful tool to optimize feed distribution according to this species natural rhythm. The maximal number of demands occurring between 20:00 and 21:00 h (dusk/sunset), together with the fact that 61% of the feed demands took place during the night, reveals a preferential crepuscular/nocturnal feeding pattern of this species.     

Replacement of fishmeal in cobia (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rachycentron canadum</Emphasis>) diets using poultry by-product meal

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the use of local poultry by-product meal (PBM) in replacement of imported fishmeal in the diets of cobia, Rachycentron canadum. Six isolipidic (12%) and isoproteic (45%) experimental diets were formulated using PBM to replace fishmeal at 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% dietary protein. Eleven juvenile cobia (initial mean weight of 30.7 ± 0.78 g) were randomly stocked in 300-L circular fibreglass tanks and hand-fed based on the total biomass of each tank, twice a day at 0900 h and 1500 h. The fish were group weighed at 2-week intervals to monitor their growth performance in order to adjust the feeding ratio. At the end of the feeding trial, weight gains (WGs) ranging from 221 to 322% were obtained. The specific growth rate (SGR), WG and protein efficiency ratio (PER) for fish fed with PBM-based diets were not significantly different (P > 0.05) when compared to fish fed the control diet. The best SGR was recorded for fish fed with 60PBM diet, which was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those fed the control diet with values at 2.40 ± 0.01 and 1.97 ± 0.26%/day, respectively. The FCR of 1.83 ± 0.05 for fish fed the 60PBM diet was not significantly different (P > 0.05) when compared to those fed the control diet. The PBM source and dietary level did not significantly (P > 0.05) affect the hepatosomatic index of the fish. The results from this study suggested that PBM could replace 100% dietary fishmeal without adversely affecting the growth performance, but an optimal replacement level at approximately 60% was recommended for better growth performance and efficient feed utilization.     

Dietary Protein Level and Feeding Rate for Hybrid Clariid Catfish,Clarias gariepinus X Heterobranchus bidorsalis,in Homestead Tanks

Abstract

A 3 × 3 factorial experiment was designed to determine the effects of protein levels and feeding rate on growth and body composition of hybrid clariid catfish, Clarias gariepinusX Heterobranchus bidorsalis, over 12 weeks experimental period. Hybrid catfish (initial mean weight 12.53±0.35 g) were stocked in three feeding rates (3%, 5%, or 7% body weight/day (bw/day) and three crude protein levels (30%, 35%, or 40%). Each treatment was assigned randomly to three tanks. Final weight was higher for fish fed at 40% than those fed at 30% and 35% CP. There was no significant difference (P >0.05) in fish fed at 3%, 5%, and 7% bw/day. Also, there was no significant interaction between feeding rate and dietary protein level for weight gain, specific growth rate or feed conversion ratio. Weight gain and feed efficiency under feeding rates increased linearly as protein level increased. Dietary protein levels and feeding rate had significant effect on fish survival. Protein levels had a positive linear effect on fish body protein in all the feeding rates. Based on the above results, 40% CP level and 5% bw/day feeding rate are suggested to be optimal for achieving optimum growth rate and body composition.     

Evaluation of skate meal and sablefish viscera meal as fish meal replacement in diets for Pacific threadfin (Polydactylus sexfilis)

The objectives of this study were to investigate the nutritional value of skate meal and sablefish viscera meal from Alaskan fishery processing and to ascertain their suitability as replacements for pollock fishmeal in diets for Pacific threadfin (Polydactylus sexfilis). Test diets were made by replacing 50% or 100% protein from fish meal in the control diet with skate or sablefish viscera meal. The test diets and a commercial feed were each assigned to four tanks with eight juvenile fish (9.7 g) per tank in an indoor flow‐through culture system. After 6 weeks, Pacific threadfin fed skate meal‐50% and ‐100% substituted diets exhibited similar weight gains (374%; 369%) and feed conversion ratios (1.29; 1.27) as those fed the control diet (345%; 1.30 respectively) (P > 0.05). In contrast, Pacific threadfin fed the sablefish viscera meal‐50% substituted diet exhibited significantly lower weight gain (112%) than fish fed the control diets (P < 0.05). The fish fed the control diet and skate meal substituted diets also achieved significantly higher (P < 0.05) weight gain than those fed the commercial feed (288%). In conclusion, skate meal can fully replace the commercial fishmeal in a Pacific threadfin diet without adversely effecting growth performance.     

Effect of feeding frequency on growth,feed utilization,body composition and waste output of juvenile golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) reared in net pens

A 6‐week feeding trial was conducted to examine the effect of feeding frequency on growth, feed utilization efficiency, body composition and waste output of juvenile golden pompano Trachinotus ovatus reared in net pens. Fish (10.3 ± 0.5 g) were either fed a formulated diet containing 48.4% crude protein and 5.7% crude lipid at 0.5, 1, 2, 3 or 4 meals per day or fed a raw fish feed at two meals per day as a control. The weight gain (WG) increased with increasing feeding frequency from 0.5 to 3 meals per day (P < 0.05), but did not significantly change with the further increase in feeding frequency from 3 to 4 meals per day (P > 0.05). The feed intake (FI) was lower in fish fed at 0.5 or 1 meal per day than in fish fed at 2, 3 or 4 meals per day (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in the feed conversion ratio (FCR), nitrogen retention efficiency (NRE), condition factor (CF), nitrogen waste output (NWO) and phosphorus waste output (PWO) between fish fed at 1, 2, 3 or 4 meals per day (P > 0.05), whereas no significant difference was found in the phosphorus retention efficiency (PRE) among the feeding treatments (P > 0.05). The body lipid content increased, whereas the contents of moisture and ash decreased, with the increase in feeding frequency (P < 0.05). At the same feeding frequency, fish fed the formulated diet exhibited lower FI, FCR, HSI, body moisture content, NWO and PWO, but higher NRE, PRE, body lipid content and body phosphorus content than those of fish fed the raw fish feed (P < 0.05). These results suggest that the formulated diet can satisfy nutrient requirements of juvenile golden pompano reared in net pens, and the suitable feeding frequency is 3 meals per day.     

Effect of ginger and its nanoparticles on growth performance,cognition capability,immunity and prevention of motile Aeromonas septicaemia in Cyprinus carpio fingerlings

Novel study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of ginger (GN) and its nanoparticles (GNNP) on growth, cognition, immunity and prevention of motile Aeromonas septicaemia (MAS) in Cyprinus carpio fingerlings. Fish were divided into five groups fed diet 1 (control; no additives), diet 2 (0.5 g of GN), 3 (1 g of GN), 4 (0.5 g of GNNP) and 5 (1 g of GNNP) per kg feed for 30 days. In the behavioural test, fish were individually placed in a foraging maze to evaluate their cognition capability and feeding behaviour. At the end of feeding period, fish fed GN and GNNP showed significant better final weight than the controls. GN and GNNP significantly increased total protein, globulin and lysozyme, whereas 1 g GNNP group was the highest. One gram of GN, 0.5 g and 1 g GNNP enhanced cognition capability, while GN and GNNP increased percentage of fish fed in the maze. Brain acetylcholinesterase was significantly decreased than control in 1 g GN group. GNNP succeeded in the prevention of MAS more than GN, because no mortalities and 100% relative percentage survival (RPS) were detected in 1 and 0.5 g GNNP and 1 g GN per kg feed, while fish fed 0.5 g GN showed 20% mortalities and 71.4 RPS.     

Feed regimen affects growth,condition index,proximate analysis and myocyte ultrastructure of juvenile spinefoot rabbitfish Siganus rivulatus

The present work was designed to evaluate the effects of various feeding regimens on rabbitfish growth and condition. Twelve juvenile rabbitfish Siganus rivulatus (7.3 ± 0.1 g) were stocked into each of 15 tanks. Tanks were randomly assigned one of five treatments with three replicate tanks per treatment. Treatments were G‐I: fish fed once daily at 08.00; G‐II: fish fed once daily at 17.00; G‐III: fish fed twice daily at 08.00, 17.00; G‐IV: fish fed three times daily, at 08.00, 13.00, 17.00; G‐V: fish fed three times daily at 08.00, 13.00, 17.00 for six consecutive days, followed by 1 day of fasting. Fish were offered a commercial diet (Golden Extruded, 450 g kg^?1 protein, 200 g kg^?1 lipids) to apparent satiation. At the conclusion of the study, weight gain of rabbitfish fed three times daily (273.1%) was significantly greater than weight gain of fish in all other treatments. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) of fish fed once per day (1.5) was significantly greater than FCR in all other treatments. Proportion of lipids in fish fed three times per day was significantly greater than in fish from other treatments. Ultrastructure of muscle of fish offered feed three times daily had a better organized appearance and better defined striation than muscle of fish in other treatments. Accordingly, feeding rabbitfish three times daily is better than feeding them once or twice daily and also improves muscle ultrastructure and quality.     

Effects of different commercial diets on growth performance,health and resistance to Tetrahymena sp. infection in guppies,Poecilia reticulata (Peters)

The effects of feeding guppy fry, Poecilia reticulata (Peters), different commercial diets from BernAqua [MeM (R = Regular, O = Ornamental and P = Premium) and experimental feed (EF] and Ocean Nutrition (ON) on growth was tested for 57 days. Health status and resistance to Tetrahymena infection were analysed at the end of the trial. The highest growth was obtained in fish fed MeM Regular and MeM Premium (mean final weights of 427 and 417 mg respectively). Fish fed EF had a significantly higher rate of spinal deformity (12.7%) than all other feeding groups (3.05% or less). Histological analysis revealed the accumulation of liver glycogen and/or lipid in fish from all feeding groups; fat accumulation in the abdomen was most pronounced in the EF and MeM Regular‐fed fish, and muscle dystrophy was observed in ca. 50% of the fish from all feeding groups except the MeM Ornamental‐fed group. The highest mortality following Tetrahymena infection occurred in fish fed EF (87%) and the lowest mortality in the MeM Ornamental‐fed fish (58%). Mortalities in all other feeding groups ranged between 69% and 76%. In summary, MeM Ornamental feed provided a moderate weight gain, no muscle dystrophy, negligible deformity and the greatest resistance to parasitic infection.     

Influence of stocking density on growth of juvenile red porgy Pagrus pagrus L. under different feeding conditions

The influence of stocking density and feeding regime on the growth of red porgy was studied during winter and spring 1997. Fish were held in 500-L tanks at densities of either 50 or 100 fish per tank, and were fed by means of self-feeders under 6 h restricted (day or night) or free-access feeding regimes. Fish were tagged individually, and weight gain was recorded by individual weighing every second week over an 8-week period during each season. In winter, growth was influenced by feeding time. Fish tended to grow best when fed without restriction and worst when fed at night, although differences were not significant when tank means were compared. Stocking density was influential in the spring trial. Fish stocked at low density and feeding freely grew better than high-density fish that fed either freely or at night. The division of fish into three size classes revealed that, within each treatment, no differences occurred among classes, but growth of fish belonging to the same class was influenced by rearing conditions. No significant differences were found among feeding regimes in terms of the coefficients of weight variation ratio (CV_f:CV_i) and feed efficiency.     

Physiological responses to feed restriction and starvation in juvenile Siberian sturgeon Acipenser baerii (Brandt, 1869): Effects on growth,body composition and blood plasma metabolites

An 8‐week study was applied to evaluate the effects of feed restriction and starvation on growth, proximate composition, haematological and biochemical factors in juvenile Siberian sturgeon Acipenser baerii with an average weight of 54 ± 0.6 g. Fish were randomly divided into nine indoor tanks (1,050 L volume) with 30 fish per tank in a flow‐through system at 18 ± 0.4°C. Three feeding strategies were considered: I) fed at satiation (F), II) restricted feeding at the rate of 1% body weight per day (R) and III) starvation (S) each with 3 replicates. Fish were fed with commercial pellets 4 times daily, but no feed was considered for S group throughout the trial. Basal level at the start, 4 and 8 weeks after initiation of the experiment, blood samples were taken from 5 fish/tank to measure the haematological and biochemical parameters. Moreover, growth performance was recorded every 2‐week interval. At the end of the experiment, the growth parameters and proximate composition were significantly different among the treatments. As expected, the highest weight (164.7 ± 2.1 g) was observed in F group compared to R (101 ± 1.7 g), or S (42.4 ± 0.8 g) groups. The highest (12.07 ± 0.14%) and lowest (5.37 ± 0.42%) fat contents were observed in F and S groups, respectively, while the protein was not affected in R group compared with F group. In addition, most haematological and biochemical indices of Siberian sturgeon were affected by starvation at week 4 and 8, while few changes were observed in restricted feeding. The highest mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, plasma total protein, cholesterol and triglyceride was found in S group, while the lowest value of plasma glucose was observed in this group. It can be concluded that Siberian sturgeon adjusts the physiological condition in short‐term (4 weeks) feed restriction using stored metabolites to have basal metabolism and due to this, a short period of feed restriction strategy recommends to the optimum nutritional management of Siberian sturgeon to cost‐saving during unsuitable conditions.     

Effects of dietary inclusion of yacon,ginger and blueberry on growth,body composition and challenge test of juvenile rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli) against Edwardsiella tarda

Effects of dietary inclusion of yacon, Polymnia sonchifolia (YC), ginger, Zingiber officinale (GG), and blueberry, Vaccinium ashei (BB), on growth, body composition and challenge test of rockfish against Edwardsiella tarda compared to ethoxyquin were investigated. Three hundred and sixty fish were randomly distributed into 12 flow‐through tanks. Four experimental diets were prepared: the control diet (Con) with 0.1 g/kg ethoxyquin, and YC, GG and BB diets. Each diet was assigned to triplicate tanks of fish and hand‐fed for 8 weeks. Externally normal fish after fourth and eighth weeks of feeding trial were infected with Edwardsiella tarda for challenge test. Weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR) of fish fed the YC diet were greater than those of fish fed all other diets. Feed efficiency, protein efficiency ratio and protein retention of fish fed the YC diet were higher than those of fish fed all other diets. In the both fourth and eighth weeks of infection trials, mortality of fish fed the Con diet was higher than that of fish fed all other diets. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of YC, GG and BB increased weight gain and SGR of fish. YC, GG and BB for 4 and 8 weeks lowered mortality of fish at occurrence of E. tarda.