Effect of dietary carbohydrate sources on growth performance and utilization for gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) and Chinese longsnout catfish (Leiocassis longirostris Günther)

The nutritional function of monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides for omnivorous gibel carp and carnivorous Chinese longsnout catfish were investigated and the ability of these two species to utilize carbohydrates was compared. For each species, triplicate groups of fish were assigned to each of five groups of isoenergetic and isonitrogenous experimental diets with different carbohydrate sources: glucose, sucrose, dextrin, soluble starch (acid‐modified starch) and α‐cellulose. The carbohydrates were included at 60 g kg^?1 in Chinese longsnout catfish diets and at 200 g kg^?1 in gibel carp diets. A growth trial was carried out in a recirculation system at 27.8 ± 1.9 °C for 8 weeks. The results showed that fish with different food habits showed difference in the utilization of carbohydrate sources. For gibel carp, better specific growth rate (SGR) and feed efficiency (FE) were observed in fish fed diets containing soluble starch and cellulose, but for Chinese longsnout catfish, better SGR and FE were observed in fish fed diets containing dextrin and sucrose. Apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matter (ADC_d) and apparent digestibility coefficient of energy (ADC_e) were significantly affected by dietary carbohydrate sources in gibel carp. ADC_d and ADC_e significantly decreased as dietary carbohydrate complexity increased in Chinese longsnout catfish except that glucose diet had medium ADC_d and ADC_e. In both species, no significant difference of apparent digestibility coefficient of protein was observed between different carbohydrate sources. Dietary carbohydrate sources significantly affected body composition, and liver phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), pyruvate kinase (PK), glucose 6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and malic enzyme (ME) activities also varied according to dietary carbohydrate complexity. Fish with different food habits showed different abilities to synthesize liver glycogen, and the liver glycogen content in gibel carp was significantly higher than in Chinese longsnout catfish. The influence of carbohydrate source on gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis was also different in the two fish species.     

Different utilization of plant sources by the omnivores jundiá catfish (Rhamdia quelen) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Plant sources are receiving special attention as feedstuffs in aquafeeds because of fish meal and oil shortage. However, studies about the effects of dietary fibre in fish are scarce. The inclusion of plant ingredients containing different levels of dietary fibre – broken rice (BR), ground corn (GC), wheat bran (WB), citrus pulp (CP) and soybean hulls (SH) were evaluated for the omnivores jundiá catfish and Nile tilapia. Tilapia is a typical omnivore with long intestines, whereas jundiá has short intestines and no pyloric ceca. Fibrous sources (CP, WB and SH) were less digestible for both species than the starchy ones (BR and GC). However, jundiá presented less ability to utilize the starch and protein from plant sources than tilapia. Growth of tilapia followed plant sources digestibility but no significant differences were detected for jundiá, probably because of its slower growth rate. Muscle layer was thicker in the distal intestine of jundiá fed CP diet, which possibly indicates an adaptation to propel the large volume of viscous digesta along the intestine. Therefore, despite its lower ability to utilize starchy plant sources, jundiá showed an adaptive capacity to utilize fibrous diets, which is in agreement with its omnivorous feeding habit.     

Susceptibility of five species of fish to Edwardsiella ictaluri

Abstract. Five species of fingerling fish, channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus , tilapia, Sarotherodon aureus , golden shiner, Notemigonus crysoleucas , largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides and bighead carp, Aristichthys nobilis , were tested to determine their susceptibility to the bacterium, Edwardsiella ictaluri , at 26°C, Channel catfish demonstrated high susceptibility to E. ictaluri as 100% of those fish injected with 1.5 × 10³ cells died within 10 days. Tilapia demonstrated slight susceptibility to the pathogen while golden shiner, bighead carp and largemouth bass were not susceptible. E. ictaluri was isolated from a higher percentage of peritoneal cavities, livers and kidneys of channel catfish than of other species. Sequential growth of E. ictaluri in the liver of channel catfish is described.     

Tilapia Lake Virus was not detected in non-tilapine species within tilapia polyculture systems of Bangladesh

Sixteen countries, including Bangladesh, have reported the presence of tilapia lake virus (TiLV), an emerging tilapia pathogen. Fish polyculture is a common farming practice in Bangladesh. Some unusual mortalities reported in species co-cultivated with TiLV-infected tilapia led us to investigate whether any of the co-cultivated species would also test positive for TiLV and whether they were susceptible to TiLV infection under controlled laboratory experiments. Using 183 samples obtained from 15 farms in six districts across Bangladesh, we determined that 20% of the farms tested positive for TiLV in tilapia, while 15 co-cultivated fish species and seven other invertebrates (e.g. insects and crustaceans) considered potential carriers all tested negative. Of the six representative fish species experimentally infected with TiLV, only Nile tilapia showed the typical clinical signs of the disease, with 70% mortality within 12 days. By contrast, four carp species and one catfish species challenged with TiLV showed no signs of TiLV infection. Challenged tilapia were confirmed as TiLV-positive by RT-qPCR, while challenged carp and walking catfish all tested negative. Overall, our field and laboratory findings indicate that species used in polycultures are not susceptible to TiLV. Although current evidence suggests that TiLV is likely host-specific to tilapia, targeted surveillance for TiLV in other fish species in polyculture systems should continue, in order to prepare for a possible future scenario where TiLV mutates and/or adapts to new host(s).     

Proximate and fatty acid composition of 13 important freshwater fish species in central Europe

We aimed to investigate proximate and fatty acid composition of important freshwater fish species in the Czech Republic. Sampled fish include seven species from intensive farming: African catfish, rainbow trout, Wels catfish, Nile tilapia, brook trout, northern whitefish, and pikeperch; eight species from semi-intensive culture systems: common carp, northern pike, pikeperch, grass carp, European perch, tench, silver carp, and catfish; and three species from extensive culture systems: rainbow trout, tench, and common carp. The fat content and fatty acid composition were highly influenced by the culture systems. Simultaneously, we observed a significant dependence of fatty acid composition on the fat content. The content of saturated fatty acids was below 34% in all analyzed fish. Northern pike, pikeperch, and European perch contained with over 50% the highest proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Intensively cultured fish reached the highest content of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic fatty acid. Nutritional quality was determined by atherogenic and thrombogenic indexes which ranged from 0.27 to 0.63 and 0.20 to 0.61 and by ratios n-3/n-6 (0.54–3.45) and polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acids (0.67–2.01). Results demonstrated that the flesh of all studied species are of high nutritional quality.     

Enzyme producing bacterial flora isolated from fish digestive tracts

Isolationand enumeration of aerobic bacterial flora in the gastrointestinal tract of nineculturable freshwater teleosts, namely catla, rohu, mrigal, silver carp, grasscarp, common carp, tilapia, walking catfish and murrel have been carried out.Amylolytic, cellulolytic, lipolytic and proteolytic microflora were identifiedfrom the culture plate using selective media. The isolates were qualitativelyscreened on the basis of their extracellular enzyme producing ability. Theselected strains were further quantitatively assayed for amylase, cellulase,lipase and protease activities. Protease activity was exhibited by almost allthe bacterial isolates, while strains isolated from tilapia, grass carp andcommon carp showed considerable amylolytic and cellulolytic activities. Maximumactivity of lipase was exhibited by a strain isolated from silver carp. Thestudy indicates that there is a distinct microbial source of the digestiveenzymes – amylase, cellulase, lipase and protease, apart from endogenoussources in fish gut. The information generated from the present investigationmight contribute towards better feed formulations for carp at low cost,incorporating the enzyme producing bacterial isolates as probiotics.     

Fish-management relationships in Israeli commercial fish farming

To analyse the relationships among fish species performance and management procedures, a database was built up with data from 31 fish farms during the period 1976–1987 (1673 observations) and analysed through multivariate statistics (factor analysis). The data include nurseries, grow-out and operational ponds with mono- and polycultures of common carp, Cyprinus carpio, tilapia hybrid, Oreochromis niloticus × O. aureus, silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, and mullet, Mugil cephalus. The main conclusions include the following. (1) The highest total yields and best tilapia performances were obtained in polyculture ponds where tilapia was the main species. (2) The best carp performances occurred in grow-out polyculture ponds where carp was the main species. Carp performance was improved in polycultures with mullet and silver carp, irrespective of whether tilapia were present or not. (3) Carp and tilapia yields increased as the nutritional inputs (feed pellets, sorghum pellets, manure), pond size and culture duration increased. The effect of the nutritional input was not linear, but logarithmic. (4) Growth rate of common carp was more affected by total density and stocking size than that of tilapia. Better carp and tilapia growth occurred in grow-out ponds when stocked at large sizes and cultured during short periods, mainly when both species were present. (5) Carp growth varied with the geographical region and size of fish pond, being better in smaller than in larger ponds due to reduced access to natural benthic food in deep ponds.     

Cage‐pond integration of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) with carps

Cage‐pond integration system is a new model for enhancing productivity of pond aquaculture system. A field trial was conducted using African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in cages and carps in earthen ponds. There were four treatments replicated five times: (1) carps in ponds without cage, (2) tilapia at 30 fish m^?3 in cage and carps in open pond, (3) catfish at 100 fish m^?3 in cage and carps in open pond, (4) tilapia and catfish at 30 and 100 fish m^?3, respectively, in separate cages and carps in open pond. The carps were stocked at 1 fish m^?2. The cage occupied about 3% of the pond area. The caged tilapia and catfish were fed and the control ponds were fertilized. Results showed that the combined extrapolated net yield was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the catfish, tilapia and carps integration system (9.4 ± 1.6 t ha^?1 year^?1) than in the carp polyculture (3.3 ± 0.7 t ha^?1 year^?1). The net return from the tilapia and carps (6860 US$ ha^?1 year^?1) and catfish, tilapia and carps integration systems (6668 US$ ha^?1 year^?1) was significantly higher than in the carp polyculture (1709 US$ ha^?1 year^?1) (P < 0.05). This experiment demonstrated that the cage‐pond integration of African catfish and Nile tilapia with carps is the best technology to increase production; whereas integration of tilapia and carp for profitability.     

Apparent digestibility coefficient of protein sources for carp, Cyprinus carpio L.

The digestibility of various diet components as protein sources for common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., at 500–800 g was studied by using an inert marker in the feed and collecting the faeces by stripping. Protein in fish meal (83.8%) and soybean meal (69.8%) were significantly more digestible than that of poultry meal (47.2%). Energy digestibility tests gave the following results: fish meal 93.4%, soybean meal 74.7% and poultry meal 63.9%. It was evident that the ability of carp to digest proteins is very high, and that they can utilize proteins as the main component of their diet.     

Effects of common carp (Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758) and the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus Burchell, 1822) on growth and reproductive performance of native tilapia Oreochromis shiranus (Boulenger, 1896)

A study was conducted to assess the effects of common carp and the African catfish on growth and reproduction of the native tilapia Oreochromis shiranus in Malawi. The study was done from 1 May to 1 October 2018 at the National Aquaculture Centre (NAC), Zomba. Four triplicated treatments were used: O. shiranus + carp (T1), O. shiranus + catfish (T2), O. shiranus + carp + catfish polyculture (T3) and O. shiranus monoculture (T4). Fish were stocked at uniform density of 0.8 fish/m². Data collection was done once every month. Results showed that O. shiranus mean weight gain (%), specific growth rate (% body weight/day), average daily gain (g fish^?1 day^?1) and condition factor (g/cm³) were highest in T3 and lowest in T1 and T4 treatments. T3 had better water quality regime and higher tilapia biomass than T1 and T4 treatments. Tilapia fry production (no. fry pond^?1 day^?1) was highest in T4 but did not significantly differ (p > .05) between T2 and T3 treatments. It is concluded that the farming of common carp in aquatic ecosystems containing the African catfish may not adversely affect growth and reproduction of O. shiranus and that the polyculture of the African catfish, common carp and tilapia can be adopted to mitigate the potential adverse effects of carp on the environment and improve tilapia growth.     

Apparent digestibility coefficients of European grain legumes in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Two trials were carried out to evaluate the apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), lipids, starch and gross energy (GE) of six European varieties of grain legumes, namely chickpea‐type Kabuli (CHK), chickpea‐type Desi (CHD), field pea (FP), faba bean (FB), white lupin (WL) and chickling vetch (CV), in rainbow trout and Nile tilapia juveniles. The ADCs were measured using a reference diet and six experimental diets (700 g/kg of the reference diet and 300 g/kg of each raw grain legume) containing 10 g/kg chromic oxide as inert marker. Additionally, grain legumes were analysed for the organic acids profile. In rainbow trout, FP presented the highest ADCs of DM, CP and GE, whereas chickpeas and FB had the lowest DM, GE and starch ADC values. In Nile tilapia, the lowest values of nutrients (except starch) and energy ADCs were found for FP and CV. Nutrients and energy of chickpeas, WL and FB were better digested by tilapia, whereas FP was better digested by trout. Overall results reveal raw grain legumes as promising feed sources for both fish species.     

Apparent digestibility coefficients of selected feed ingredients for juvenile hybrid tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus×Oreochromis aureus

The apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of dry matter, crude protein, crude lipid, gross energy, phosphorus and amino acids in local fish meal (LFM), Peruvian fish meal (PFM), poultry by‐product meal (PMM), meat and bone meal (MBM), tilapia by‐product meal (TM), fermented soybean meal (FSBM), soybean meal (SBM), peanut meal, canola meal (CM), cottonseed meal (CSM) and de‐gossypoled cottonseed meal were determined for juvenile hybrid tilapia (7.18 ± 0.2 g, mean ± SD). A reference diet (RF) and test diets (consisting of 70% RF and 30% of the feedstuff) were used with 0.5% chromic oxide as an external digestibility marker. The juvenile hybrid tilapias were stocked in 500‐L fibreglass tanks at a density of 20 fish per tank. Faeces were collected from triplicate groups of fish using a faecal collection column attached to the fish‐rearing tank. The results indicated that the ADCs of dry matter for juvenile hybrid tilapia ranged 71.88–89.53% for animal products and 65.89–79.98% for plant products. For crude protein, apparent digestibility coefficients of protein (ADCp) exceeding 90% were observed for FSBM, SBM and PFM, and ADCp of MBM was the lowest among all the treatments. Apparent digestibility coefficients of lipid in all the treatments were above 90%; the results indicate that lipids from both animal and plant sources were well digested by hybrid tilapia. The ADCs of phosphorus of animal and plant feedstuffs ranged between 58.04–74.44% and 52.65–64.23% respectively. The lowest ADC of phosphorus was observed in CSM among plant ingredients and in MBM among animal ingredients. The ADCs of energy were similar to those of dry matter and protein; the highest and lowest ADCs of energy were found in PFM and CM respectively. In general, the amino acid availability coefficients tended to reflect the ADCp among highly digestible ingredients. For the animal products, the availabilities of amino acids in PFM, LFM and PMM were generally higher than that in TM and MBM; among all the plant products, the availabilities of amino acids in FSBM and SBM were higher than in CM. These results indicated that juvenile hybrid tilapia is able to utilize different feedstuffs efficiently.     

Fisheries by-catch and processing waste meals as ingredients in diets for Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

Digestibility, feeding and growth studies were conducted with Nile tilapia using diets containing fishery by‐catch and processing waste meals. Three meals manufactured from sorted fisheries by‐catch (MBM, from mixed benthic species, SPM, from small pelagic species, CAM, from mixed catfish species) one from tuna cannery waste (TCW) and one commercial anchovy meal (COM) were tested. By‐catch and processing waste meals had lower protein, lower lipid and higher ash contents than anchovy meal. The meals were all highly digestible and no significant differences (P≥0.05) were observed between apparent protein digestibility measurements. Five feeds, containing fish meal as the major protein ingredient, were formulated and fed to triplicate groups of 30 juvenile tilapias for 9 weeks. Survival, weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, phosphorus retention and whole body proximate composition were compared. Weight gain and SGRs were similar for each treatment group and compared favourably with the results obtained from juvenile tilapia elsewhere. Growth was the highest for CAM (P≤0.05), which contained both the highest essential amino acid levels and the highest ash content. Phosphorus retention was significantly lower in fish fed with high ash meals, MBM, CAM and TCW (P≤0.05) than in fish fed with the lower ash meals COM and SPM. Overall, the fisheries by‐catch and processing waste meals evaluated in this study are suitable protein ingredients for juvenile tilapia feeds.     

A comparative study on the apparent digestibility of selected feedstuffs in hybrid catfish (Clarias macrocephalus × Clarias gariepinus) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

The apparent digestibility (AD) of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP) and essential amino acids (EAA) in five selected feedstuffs was evaluated in hybrid catfish and Nile tilapia. The AD of DM, OM and CP in cassava leaf meal (CLM) was lower (P < 0.05) than in groundnut meal (GNM), soybean meal (SBM), sesame husk meal (SSH) and shrimp head meal (SHM). The AD of DM, OM and CP among GNM, SBM, SSH and SHM was not different (P > 0.05). The AD of most EAA was higher in SSH (P < 0.05) than in CLM, GNM, SBM and SHM. The AD of most EAA among CLM, GNM, SBM and SHM was not different (P > 0.05). The AD of DM and OM in CLM was higher (P < 0.05) in hybrid catfish than in Nile tilapia, while there was no difference in the AD of CP in CLM between fish species. The AD of DM, OM, CP and EAA among GNM, SBM, SSH and SHM did not differ between hybrid catfish and Nile tilapia. In conclusion, there were only small differences in the nutritional properties between the selected feedstuffs in both fish species. Most EAA in the selected feedstuffs were equally well utilized by hybrid catfish and Nile tilapia.     

Cell wall disruption: An effective strategy to improve the nutritive quality of microalgae in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

The rigid cell walls of microalgae may hinder their utilization in fish feeds. The current experiment assessed the correlation between the accessibility of microalgae nutrients and their in vivo digestibility in African catfish. Nannochloropsis gaditana biomass was subjected to physical or mechanical treatments to weaken its cell wall; untreated—no disruption treatment (UNT), pasteurization (PAS), freezing (FRO), freeze‐drying (FRD), cold pasteurization (L40) and bead milling (BEM). Six experimental diets formulated from differently treated and untreated microalgae (at 30% diet inclusion level) were tested on growth performance and apparent nutrient digestibility (ADCs) in juvenile African catfish. A basal diet (REF) containing no microalgae was used as reference diet. Results showed that biomass gain and feed conversion ratio of fish fed L40 and BEM diets increased by 13% and 11%, respectively, relative to the UNT diet. Additionally, FRD, FRO, L40 and BEM cell wall disruption treatments improved protein digestibility by 0.5%, 5.9%, 8.4% and 16.3%, respectively, compared to the UNT treatment. There was a positive correlation between accessibility of microalgal nutrients and their digestibility in African catfish. Nutrient digestibility of microalgae was dependent on extent of cell disruption. Also, the impact of cell disruption on nutrient digestibility of microalgae differs between African catfish and Nile tilapia.     

Combined effects of fertilization rate, manuring and feed pellet application on fish performance and water quality in polyculture ponds

This study analyses the combined effects of organic and inorganic fertilization and of feeding with pellets on fish performance and water quality in a polyculture of common carp. Cyprinus Carpio L., silver carp. Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Val.), grass carp. Ctenopharyngodon idella (Val.) and hybrid tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus L. x O. aureus Stetndachner. Experiments included six treatments, which are combinations of inorganic fertilisation (daily or fortnightly), manuring (supplied or not), feed pellets (supplied or not) and density of phytoplanktivorous fish species (high-density treatments with 50% more hybrid tilapia and 300% more silver carp than low-density treatments). The effects of the management procedures on fish weight, growth, survival and yield. plankton abundance, water quality, and their complex interactions at the different levels of the natural food web were analysed. The hypothesis that daily fertilization should increase algal production, which in turn should sustain a higher density of phytoplanktivorous fish, proved to be correct within certain limits. Algal reproduction rate was higher under daily fertilization, pointing to better supply of food for herbivorous fish, while algal biomass was similar under both fertilization regimes, pointing to the utilization of that algal food supply. The increased algal food supply sustained a 50% density increase of the omnivorous tilapia, but not the 300% density increase of the grazer silver carp.     

Growth, Yield, Dressout, and Net Returns of Bighead Carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis Stocked at Three Densities in Catfish Ictalurus punctatus Ponds

Abstract— Alternative fish species that can be cultured together with catfish Ictalurus punctatus provide an opportunity to diversify caffish farms. A 2-yr study was conducted in 0.10-ha earthen ponds to evaluate the effect of bighead carp (BHC) stocking density on growth, yield, dressout yield, and net returns. Initially, bighead carp (average weight of 22 g) were stocked at rates of 380, 750, or 1,130 fishha in ponds with catfish. Caffish were cultured under commercial conditions by stocking caffish at a density of 12,500/ha, aerating nightly and feeding at an average rate of 82 kgha per d. Stocking rates for 2-yr-old fish were reduced to 77, 260, and 435/ha in the second growing season. There were no significant differences among treatments ( P > 0.05) in summer growth of bighead carp in either year. Bighead carp stocked at 1,130 fishha had significantly higher yields than those stocked at 380/ha, but did not reach minimum market size of 2.2 kg during the first year ( P > 0.05). There were no significant differences ( P > 0.05) in caffish growth, yield, survival, or feed conversion ratios due to the bighead carp stocking densities. Partial budget analysis indicated that net benefits were positive for all three treatments over a range of prevailing prices of bighead carp. Bighead carp production in catfish ponds is economically feasible over a wide range of prices. Given the market risk of producing smaller fish at the higher density, the medium density is the preferred stocking density of fingerling bighead carp in catfish ponds.     

不同鱼类和采样时间的养殖池塘环境微生物群落研究

微生物群落是养殖池塘生态系统的重要组成部分,了解环境微生物群落结构和功能,可有针对性地进行养殖环境微生态调控。在不同季节采集尼罗罗非鱼（Oreochromis niloticus）和斑点叉尾鮰（Ictalurus punctatus）池塘水样,分析硝酸盐氮(NO3-N)、亚硝酸盐氮(NO2-N)、氨氮(NH4-N)、总氮(TN)和总磷(TP)等理化指标,利用Biolog-Eco微平板技术分析水体中微生物对各类碳源代谢的平均颜色变化率,利用高通量测序技术分析其菌群结构。结果表明,1月淡水养殖池塘水质和菌群结构不同于其他采样时间,养殖鱼类种类对池塘理化指标和微生物菌群结构影响不大。不同采样时间的池塘理化指标差异显著,同一采样时间不同养殖鱼类池塘的理化指标之间无显著差异。其中,1月尼罗罗非鱼池塘中的NH4-N含量高于其他月份,且显著高于4月和7月（P<0.05）;1月TP含量显著高于4月、7月和10月（P<0.05）。1月斑点叉尾鮰池塘的TP和NO3-N含量显著高于其他3个月份（P<0.05）。Biolog-Eco微平板技术检测到尼罗罗非鱼和斑点叉尾鮰池塘中的微生物群落对碳...     

Comparative Nile tilapia and silver carp filtration rates of Partitioned Aquaculture System phytoplankton

Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) held in timed-pulse feeding chambers were provided water dominated either by green algae (Scenedesmus, Ankistrodesmus and Tetraedron) or by cyanobacteria (Microcystis) to compare filtration rates (FRs). FRs were expressed as suspended particulate organic carbon (POC)/kg wet fish weight/h and as phytoplankton units filtered based on counts. Nile tilapia and silver carp filtration significantly reduced phytoplankton number of both taxonomic groups with the larger phytoplankton being filtered proportionally more than the smaller phytoplankton. Nile tilapia FR of green algae was significantly higher than silver carp; however, silver carp FR of cyanobacteria was higher than Nile tilapia. Ivlev's 90% saturation FRs (FR₉₀) in green-algal and cyanobacterial water sources were 702 and 812 mgC/kg/h for Nile tilapia and 414 and 1028 mgC/kg/h for silver carp, respectively. Silver carp were observed to reach these FR₉₀ values at lower POC concentrations than Nile tilapia with both green algae and cyanobacteria.     

Prey fish selection by Far Eastern catfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Silurus asotus</Emphasis> and largemouth bass <Emphasis Type="Italic">Micropterus salmoides</Emphasis>

ABSTRACT:   Prey fish selection by Far Eastern catfish and largemouth bass were examined using bluegill, Japanese dace and crucian carp as food fish. In both aquaria (1.2 m × 0.45 m) and ponds (2.8 m × 1.2 m), bluegill was not preyed on by catfish and bass more than dace and crucian carp. In aquaria, there was no significant difference in the consumption of dace and crucian carp between catfish and bass, but in ponds, catfish preyed on dace and crucian carp more and less than bass, respectively. In the case that only bluegill and catfish were introduced in ponds, catfish consumed 4–15 g of bluegill per day. The introduction of catfish into ponds and lakes for the purpose of eradicating bluegill is considered appropriate for areas with few native fish species.