Effect of dietary iron supplement on growth, haematology and microelements of juvenile grouper, Epinephelus coioides

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary iron supplement on growth, haematology and microelements of juvenile grouper, Epinephelus coioides. Casein–gelatine‐based diets supplemented with 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 mg kg⁻¹ iron from ferrous sulphate were fed to grouper (mean initial weight: 21.0 ± 0.2 g) for 8 weeks. Weight gain was highest in fish fed the diet supplemented with 100 mg kg⁻¹ iron, intermediate in fish fed diets with 50, 150, 200 and 250 mg kg⁻¹ iron and lowest in fish fed the basal diet. Feed efficiency followed a similar trend except that the lowest value was in fish fed the basal diet and the diet supplemented with 250 mg kg⁻¹ iron. Hepatic iron was highest in fish fed diets supplemented with iron ≥100 mg kg⁻¹, followed by fish fed diet with 50 mg kg⁻¹ iron and lowest in fish fed the basal diet. The whole‐body iron was lowest in fish fed the basal diet but not significantly different from other groups, as judged by anova . Iron supplement to the basal diet had no significant effect on haematological parameters (red blood cell count, haematocrit and haemoglobin), hepatic copper concentration or manganese, zinc concentration in liver and whole body. Broken‐line analysis of hepatic iron indicated that iron supplementation of 100 mg kg⁻¹ satisfied the hepatic iron storage and that further supplementation did not expand the iron status.     

Dietary biotin requirement determined for Indian catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch), fingerlings

Triplicate groups of Indian catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch), fingerlings (average wet weight 3.55 ± 0.03 g) were fed semi-purified diets containing six levels of biotin (0, 0.086, 0.26, 0.86, 2.5 and 4.3 mg kg⁻¹ diet) for 15 weeks. After 42 days of feeding, fish fed the control (no biotin) diet had developed severe deficiency signs characterized by convulsions, heavy mortality, listlessness, poor feed conversion and feed intake, dark skin colour, tetanus and weight loss. None of these signs was seen in fish fed biotin-supplemented diets. Among all the biotin-supplemented diets, percentage weight gain was significantly highest for fish fed the diet supplemented with 0.26 mg of biotin kg⁻¹ and significantly lowest for fish fed the diet supplemented with 0.086 mg of biotin kg⁻¹. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) patterns were similar to that of percentage weight gain. The carcass protein and lipid contents were influenced by the dietary biotin up to fish fed 0.26 mg of biotin kg⁻¹. Significantly higher body biotin content, liver pyruvate carboxylase and acetyl CoA carboxylase activities were observed in fish fed biotin-supplemented diets than in fish fed the control diet. Broken-line analyses showed that the optimum dietary requirement for biotin for maximal weight gain, body biotin content, liver pyruvate carboxylase and acetyl CoA carboxylase activities was about 0.25 mg kg⁻¹. Associated liver pyruvate carboxylase and acetyl CoA carboxylase activities for normal growth ranged from 105 to 120 units mg⁻¹ protein and from 9 to 11 units mg⁻¹ protein respectively.     

Dietary magnesium requirements of juvenile grass carp,Ctenopharyngodon idella

To determine dietary magnesium (Mg) requirements of juvenile grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella, magnesium sulphate was added to the basal diet at 0, 150, 300, 600, 1200, 2400 mg Mg kg⁻¹ diet. Each diet was fed to three replicate groups of juvenile grass carp (initial weight: 7.69 ± 0.13 g) in a closed, recirculating rearing system for 76 days. No mortality or nutritional deficiency signs were observed except the growth depression in fish fed the Mg‐deficient diet. Growth performance and activities of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and lysozyme (LSZ) were highest (P <0.05) in fish fed the diet supplemented with 600 mg Mg kg⁻¹. The serum malondialdehyde (MDA) content was higher (P <0.05) in fish fed the diets supplemented with 0 and 150 mg Mg kg⁻¹ than that in fish fed the diets with ≥300 mg Mg kg⁻¹. Mg concentrations both in whole‐body and vertebrae increased with the increase in dietary Mg level up to 300 mg kg⁻¹, whereupon the response reached a plateau. Analysis by second‐order polynomial regression of weight gain, by broken‐line regression of vertebrae Mg concentration and by linear regression of whole‐body Mg retention of fish indicated that the adequate dietary Mg concentration for juvenile grass carp was 713.5, 627.7 and 469.8 mg kg⁻¹ diet, respectively.     

Dietary calcium requirements of juvenile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus × O. aureus, reared in fresh water

A feeding experiment was conducted to determine the dietary calcium (Ca) requirement for juvenile hybrid tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus × O. aureus reared in nature water. Purified diet supplemented with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 10 g Ca kg⁻¹ diet providing of 0.6, 1.6, 2.6, 3.7, 4.7, 5.5, 7.5 and 10.7 g Ca kg⁻¹ diet, respectively, were fed to tilapia (mean initial weight: 0.52 ± 0.01 g, n = 3) for 8 weeks. Each diet was fed to three replicate groups of fish in a closed, recirculating fresh water rearing system. The rearing water contained 27.1–33.3 mg L⁻¹ Ca. The tilapia fed the diets supplemented with ≥3.7 g Ca kg⁻¹ had significantly (P < 0.05) higher weight gain, when compared with fish fed the diet with ≤1.6 g Ca kg⁻¹. Fish fed the unsupplemented control showed significantly lower weight gain when compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). Bone Ca concentration was highest in fish fed the diets with ≥4.7 g Ca kg⁻¹, intermediate in fish fed the diet with 2.6 g Ca kg⁻¹ and lowest in fish fed the control diet. Scale Ca concentration was higher in fish fed the diets with ≥3.7 g Ca kg⁻¹ than in fish fed the diets with ≤2.6 g Ca kg⁻¹. Serum alkaline phosphatase activity was 36% increased in fish fed the diets with ≥2.6 g Ca kg⁻¹ than fish fed the diets with <1.6 g Ca kg⁻¹. Analysis by broken‐line regression of weight gain, bone and scale Ca concentrations indicated that the adequate dietary Ca concentration for tilapia in water containing 27.1–33.3 mg Ca L⁻¹ was 3.5, 4.3 and 4.2 g Ca kg⁻¹ diet, respectively, supplied as Ca‐lactate.     

Growth,feed utilization,body composition and swimming performance of giant croaker,Nibea japonica Temminck and Schlegel,fed at different dietary protein and lipid levels

A 50‐day feeding trial was conducted to examine the effects of dietary protein and lipid levels on growth, feed utilization, body composition and swimming performance of giant croaker, Nibea japonica. Fish (initial body weight 44.6 g ind⁻¹) were fed ten test diets which were formulated at 5 crude protein levels (360, 400, 440, 480 and 520 g kg⁻¹) and 2 crude lipid levels (90 and 150 g kg⁻¹). In addition, a raw fish diet (fillet of small yellow croaker) served as the reference. The weight gain (WG) increased, whereas the feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) decreased, with increasing dietary protein level from 360 to 520 g kg⁻¹. At the same dietary protein level, no significant difference was found in the WG between fish fed the diets containing 90 or 150 g kg⁻¹ crude lipid. Fish fed the diet containing 480 g kg⁻¹ crude protein and 90 g kg⁻¹ crude lipid exhibited higher WG, nitrogen retention efficiency (NRE) and energy retention efficiency (ERE) but lower nitrogen wastes output (TNW). At the end of the feeding trial, the hepatosomatic index (HSI) and viscerosomatic index (VSI) decreased, whereas the body protein content increased, with increase in dietary protein level. The body lipid content was higher in fish fed at the 150 g kg⁻¹ lipid level than in fish fed at the 90 g kg⁻¹ lipid level. No significant difference was found in the maximum sustained swimming speed (MSS) between fish fed at different dietary protein and lipid levels. The WG, NRE, ERE and condition factor (CF) were higher, whereas the FI, FCR, HSI, VSI and TNW were lower, in fish fed the raw fish diet than in fish fed the diet containing 480 g kg⁻¹ crude protein and 90 g kg⁻¹ crude lipid. No significant difference was detected in the MSS between fish fed the raw fish diet and diet containing 480 g kg⁻¹ crude protein and 90 g kg⁻¹ crude lipid. The results of this study suggest that the suitable dietary crude protein and crude lipid levels are 480 g kg⁻¹ and 90 g kg⁻¹ for giant croaker reared in net pens.     

Pharmacokinetic study of oxytetracycline in healthy and vibriosis-infected ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis)

The pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of oxytetracycline (OTC) were examined in healthy and vibriosis-infected ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis). Water temperature was maintained at 18.0 ± 0.3 °C in all experiments. Serum concentrations of OTC in healthy fish after intravascular administration (25 mg kg⁻¹ body weight) were best described by a two-compartment model, whereas serum concentration-time curves after oral administration (100 mg kg⁻¹ body weight) in healthy and infected ayu could not be fitted by the nonlinear least squares method using one- and two-compartment models with first-order absorption. The estimated bioavailability after oral administration was 9.3% for healthy fish and 3.8% for infected fish. The elimination half-lives of serum, muscle, liver and kidney were 53.1 h, 106 h, 125 h and 117 h for healthy fish, and 63.2 h, 92.9 h, 107 h and 123 h for infected fish, respectively. A significant difference in bioavailability was revealed between healthy fish and infected fish, whereas elimination was similar in both fish. Serum protein binding in vivo of OTC was 68.0 ± 2.8% for healthy fish and 69.9 ± 4.4% for infected fish.     

Effects of a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor on gonadal differentiation of bluegill sunfish Lepomis macrochirus

In the present study, the efficacy of Letrozole, a potent nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor (AI), on gonadal sex differentiation and sex reversal was examined in bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus). In Experiment 1, using AI diet treatments (50, 150, 250 and 500 mg kg⁻¹) from 30 to 90 days posthatch (dph), AI interrupted ovarian cavity formation at a dose of 500 mg kg¹ diet and one intersex fish was identified in this group. The proportions of males in all the treated groups were significantly higher than those in the control group. In Experiment 2, using AI immersion treatments (250, 500 and 1000 μg L⁻¹) during 30–50 dph, the treated groups of 500 and 1000 μg L⁻¹ produced significantly more males than the control and 250 μg L⁻¹ groups. Histological examination revealed no differences in ovary or testis tissue between control and AI‐treated fish. There were no significant differences detected in body weight and length among the AI treated and control groups (P>0.05) for both experiments. The results from these two experiments suggest that inhibition of aromatase activity by AI could influence sex differentiation in bluegill sunfish.     

Effect of dietary protein on growth, feed conversion, body composition and survival of pike perch fingerlings (Sander lucioperca)

Triplicate groups of pike perch (Sander lucioperca) juveniles were fed six experimental diets containing protein levels varying from 263 to 619 g kg⁻¹ dry matter (d.m.) for 56 days. Dietary protein was supplied by graded amounts of fish meal (with 720 g kg⁻¹ crude protein). Crude lipid and gross energy content of 101–107 g kg⁻¹ and 19.9–20.6 MJ kg⁻¹ remained constant between experimental diets. Pike perch with an initial body weight of 1.05 ± 0.05 g were randomly distributed in 18 tanks of two similar recirculation systems and fed on gradually decreasing feeding rates of 10 to 6% of their body weight per day. Growth performance and feed conversion increased with dietary protein level from 263 to 549 g kg⁻¹ d.m. but did not decline at highest dietary protein level. Protein efficiency ratio declined linearly with increasing dietary protein. Survival ranged between 89.7 and 93.9% and was not affected by dietary composition. Dry matter and crude lipid content of pike perch fingerlings decreased with increasing dietary protein supply and significantly the lowest dry matter and crude lipid levels were observed in fish fed diets containing 619 g kg⁻¹ of crude protein. The dietary protein requirement for pike perch fingerlings calculated by broken‐line and second‐order polynomial regression ranged between 529 and 577 g kg⁻¹, respectively.     

The effect of feeding diets containing deoxynivalenol contaminated corn on channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) challenged with Edwardsiella ictaluri

Channel catfish were fed practical corn‐soybean meal diets for 10 weeks that contained various weighed amounts of ground, dried field corn contaminated with 20 mg deoxynivalenol (DON) kg⁻¹. Weighed amounts of DON corn were blended with weighed amounts of ground, clean corn that contained no DON (0 mg kg⁻¹) to yield five diets that had 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 mg DON kg⁻¹ of diet. Results show that catfish fed diets that contained DON for 7 weeks did not experience lower weight gains or poorer feed conversion ratios that were significantly (P > 0.05) different from control‐fed fish. Mortality of catfish during the 21‐day post‐challenge period indicate that catfish fed diets containing DON‐contaminated corn that provided at least 5.0 mg DON kg⁻¹ of diet had significantly (P < 0.05) lower mortality than catfish fed the control diet or the diet that provided 2.5 mg DON kg⁻¹ of diet. The presence of DON‐contaminated corn in the experimental diets did not significantly (P > 0.05) alter fish body weight gains and appeared to provide a protective effect for channel catfish challenged with the pathogenic bacterium Edwardsiella ictaluri.     

Induced ovulation of yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) using a combination of a gonadotrop‐releasing hormone analogue and domperidone

The effects of an intraperitoneal hormone injection of gonadotropin‐releasing hormone agonist (D‐Ala⁶, Pro⁹‐NEt GnRHa) alone or in combination with a dopamine antagonist, domperidone (DOM), on ovulation induction in yellow catfish Pelteobagrus fulvidraco were tested. The hormone treatments were as follows: 6 mg kg⁻¹ body weight (BW) of carp pituitary extract as a positive control, GnRHa 10, 20, 40 and 80 μg kg⁻¹ BW and a combination of GnRHa and DOM as follows: 10 μg+5 mg, 20 μg+10 mg, 40 μg+20 mg and 80 μg+40 mg kg⁻¹ BW. Physiological saline (0.7% NaCl) was used as a negative control. Significant differences in the ovulation ratio, latency period and ovulation index (OI) were observed among treatments (P<0.05). The combination of GnRHa and DOM at doses of 40 μg+20 mg kg⁻¹ BW had higher values of the ovulation ratio and OI, and a shorter latency period compared with other treatments. The highest OI in GnRHa treatments was only 56.67%, suggesting a dopaminergic tone on gonadotropin secretion in this fish at the pre‐ovulatory stage. Therefore, ovulation can be successfully induced in yellow catfish with 40 μg kg⁻¹ GnRHa+20 mg kg⁻¹ DOM without affecting the egg quality.     

Bioavailability of ascorbyl phosphate calcium in hybrid catfish,Clarias macrocephalus (Gunther) × Clarias gariepinus (Burchell) feed

A 10-week feeding experiment was performed in hybrid catfish (Clarias macrocephalus (Gunther) × C. gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) with initial average weight of 1.17 g, in glass aquaria of 200-L capacity. The experiment comprised seven treatments with three replicates each. Ascorbyl phosphate calcium (APCa) was included at 30, 75, 150, 300 and 1000 mg kg⁻¹ feed and compared with one with ascorbyl polyphosphate (APP) at 36 mg kg⁻¹ feed and one without vitamin C supplementation. Fish fed APCa-supplemented feed showed better growth, feed conversion ratio, survival rate and protein utilization compared with those without such supplementation. Ascorbate concentrations in liver and head kidneys were correlated closely with dietary APCa levels. Vertebral collagen and hydroxyproline contents were significantly lower in the fish group without ascorbate supplementation. Red blood cell and white blood cell counts showed no correlation with vitamin C supplementation. Serum protein level was lowest in the group fed feed without vitamin C supplementation and this was lower than those fed feed with APCa and APP supplementation. The fish fed APCa- and APP-supplemented feed showed no difference in serum protein levels. External scorbutic symptoms and histopathological changes of gill tissue were noted in fish fed feed without APCa supplementation. The study indicates that 12.6 mg kg⁻¹ of ascorbic acid molar equivalent supplied as APCa (30 mg kg⁻¹) provided maximum growth and no gross signs as well as histological changes resulting from vitamin C deficiency.     

Cortisol is responsible for positive and negative effects in the ovarian maturation induced by the exposure to acute stressors in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of acute stress and cortisol injection on oocyte final maturation process in female Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Handling followed by a prophylactic treatment (0.3?mL?L^?1 H₂O₂, 5?g?L^?1 NaCl solution during 30?min) and an environmental change (transfer from a 2?m³ fibreglass square tank to 50?L aquaria) were used as acute stressors and compared to a single cortisol injection (0.5 or 5?mg?kg^?1 body weight). For both acute stress and cortisol injection (0.5?mg?kg^?1 body weight), serum cortisol level was significantly increased from 2.3 to 134.1?ng?mL^?1 1?h post-stress/injection and returned to a resting basal value 24?h after the stress/injection. In fish injected with 5?mg?kg^?1 body weight cortisol, mean serum cortisol level reached a peak up to 2500?ng?mL^?1 1?h after injection. 63?% of the females (mean body weight: 242?±?4?g) submitted to the acute stress ovulated within 72?h after the stress. In the same way, cortisol injection (5?mg?kg^?1 body weight) at the 10th day of the maturation cycle led to a twofold reduction of the time before ovulation compared to vehicle injected control fish. Relative and total fecundity were significantly decreased in females submitted to an acute stress or cortisol injected at 5?mg?kg^?1 body weight, but not fertilization or hatching rates. In conclusion, acute stress and cortisol induction exert both positive and negative effects on the final reproductive process in O. niloticus, and cortisol is the endocrine mediator causing these changes.     

Dietary arginine requirement of fingerling hybrid Clarias (Clarias gariepinus×Clarias macrocephalus)

The dietary arginine requirement of fingerling hybrid Clarias (Clarias gariepinus×Clarias macrocephalus) (4.2±0.03 cm, 0.56±0.04 g) was determined by feeding six isonitrogenous (400 g kg⁻¹ crude protein) and isocaloric (17.9 kJ g⁻¹) amino acid test diets containing casein, gelatin and l ‐crystalline amino acids with graded levels of arginine (10.0, 12.5, 15.0, 17.5, 20.0 and 22.5 g kg⁻¹) for 4 weeks to triplicate groups. Diets were fed twice a day at 09:00 and 16:00 hours at 8% body weight day⁻¹. Maximum weight gain (523%), best feed conversion ratio (FCR, 1.41), protein efficiency ratio (1.78) and specific growth rate (6.53%) were recorded in fish fed the diet containing arginine at 20.0gkg⁻¹ of the diet. Second‐degree polynomial regression analysis of live weight gain and FCR values indicated the dietary arginine requirement at 17.8 and 20.0 g kg⁻¹ of dry diet respectively. Significantly higher carcass protein and protein deposition values were recorded at the requirement level (20.0 g kg⁻¹). Higher fat and lower moisture values were obtained in carcass of fish fed the diet with 15.0g kg⁻¹ arginine. The maximum carcass ash value was noticed in the fish fed at 20.0 g kg⁻¹ dietary arginine. We recommend that the diet for hybrid Clarias (C. gariepinus×C. macrocephalus) should contain arginine in the range of 17.8–20.0 g kg⁻¹ of the dry diet, corresponding to 44.5 and 50 g kg⁻¹ of dietary protein respectively.     

Growth,feed efficiency and body composition of juvenile cobia (Rachycentron canadum Linnaeus, 1766) fed increasing dietary levels of shrimp protein hydrolysate

A shrimp protein hydrolysate (SPH) containing 894.2 g kg⁻¹ crude protein (CP) and 54.3 g kg⁻¹ total lipids was tested as a partial replacement for fish meal (FM) in diets of juvenile cobia. The effects of increasing dietary levels of SPH on the survival, weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), nitrogen retention efficiency (NRE) and daily feed intake (DFI) of cobia with initial body weight of 11.9 g were evaluated. Four isoproteic (from 431.1 to 439.7 g kg⁻¹) and isoenergetic (20 825–21 347 MJ kg⁻¹) diets were formulated to contain 0 (Control), 120, 240 or 360 g kg⁻¹ of dietary CP derived from SPH. Survival, WG, SGR, FCR, NRE and DFI ranged from 90 to 100%, 40.2–56.5 g, 4.7–6.1% day⁻¹, 1.04–1.54, 26.3–44.0% and 4.7–6.0% fish⁻¹ day⁻¹ respectively. Survival and DFI were not affected by the dietary treatments. On the other hand, fish fed the control diet and the one containing 120 g kg⁻¹ SPH had higher WG, SGR and FCR. Nitrogen retention efficiency was significantly higher for fish fed diets 0 and 120. It is concluded that up to 120 g kg⁻¹ of SPH in cobia diets can be used with no significant effects on feed utilization and fish performance.     

Dietary myo‐inositol requirement for juvenile gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio)

An 11‐week growth trial was conducted to determine dietary myo‐inositol (MI) requirement for juvenile gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio). Myo‐inositol was supplemented to the basal diet to formulate six purified diets containing 1, 56, 107, 146, 194 and 247 mg MI kg^?1 diet, respectively. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of juvenile gibel carp (initial body weight 3.38 ± 0.27 g, mean ± SD) in a flow‐through system. The diets were randomly assigned to different fish tanks. Fish fed ≥ 107 mg MI kg^?1 diet had significantly higher weight gain (WG), feed efficiency (FE) and protein efficiency ratio than those fed 1 mg MI kg^?1 diet. Fish fed ≥ 56 mg MI kg^?1 diet had higher feeding rate and survival compared with fish fed 1 mg MI kg^?1 diet. Dietary supplemental inositol did not affect fish liver inositol concentration. Fish fed ≥ 56 mg MI kg^?1 diet had higher body dry matter, crude protein and gross energy and lower hepatosomatic index than fish fed 1 mg MI kg^?1 diet. Dietary inositol supplementation decreased fish body ash. Quadratic regression of weight gain indicated that the myo‐inositol requirement to maximum growth for juvenile gibel carp was 165.3 mg MI kg^?1 diet.     

Single or combined effects of fructo‐ and mannan oligosaccharide supplements and Bacillus clausii on the growth,feed utilization,body composition,digestive enzyme activity,innate immune response and lipid metabolism of the Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

In this study, we examined the effects of the following eight experimental diets, which varied in fructo oligosaccharides (FOS), mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) and Bacillus clausii concentrations, on the Japanese flounder: control diet (no FOS, MOS and B. clausii), diet F (5 g kg⁻¹ FOS), diet M (5 g kg⁻¹ MOS), diet FM (2.5 g kg⁻¹ FOS + 2.5 g kg⁻¹ MOS), diet B (10⁷ cells g⁻¹B. clausii), diet FB (5 g kg⁻¹ FOS + 10⁷ cells g⁻¹B. clausii), diet MB (5 g kg⁻¹ MOS + 10⁷ cells g⁻¹B. clausii) and diet FMB (2.5 g kg⁻¹ FOS + 2.5 g kg⁻¹ MOS + 10⁷ cells g⁻¹B. clausii). Japanese flounder, initially weighing an average of 21 g, were distributed into 24 net cages at a stocking density of 20 fish per cage. Each diet was hand‐fed to three groups of fish twice daily for 56 days. The weight gain rate (WGR) in fish fed diets B, MB and FMB were significantly higher than in fish fed the control diet, where the fish fed diet FMB had the highest WGR. Fish fed any of the diets, except diets F and B, exhibited better feed conversion ratio than those fed the control diet. Diets MB and FMB significantly elevated intestinal protease activity compared with the control diet, but only the diet FMB promoted amylase activity. Feeding diets FB and FMB increased body protein deposition; additionally, feeding diets B, MB and FMB significantly reduced body lipid deposition. Lysozyme (LSZ) activity was significantly higher in fish fed diets B, FB, MB and FMB than in fish fed the control diet. All diets, except diet M, decreased triglyceride (TG) levels compared to the control diet. Low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in fish fed diets F, FB and FMB were significantly lower than in fish fed the control diet. Without exception, no diets affected feeding rate, condition factor, body moisture, ash contents, phagocytic activity of leucocytes or cholesterol or high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Our results suggest that diets supplemented with FOS, MOS and B. clausii improved growth performance and health benefits of the Japanese flounder more than other diets or the control diet.     

Fluoride retention of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fed krill meal

The present experiment was performed to study how fluoride from krill meal enriched muscle, whole fish and bone of adult Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) reared in sea water. Atlantic salmon (mean weight 0.5 kg) were divided into four triplicate groups and fed a commercial fish meal based diets with 0, 100, 200 and 300 g krill kg^?1 feed, respectively, for 12 weeks. The fluoride concentrations in the experimental feeds were analysed to be 18, 132, 235 and 358 mg kg^?1, respectively. Growth, mortality and feed efficiency were recorded through the experiment. Fluoride concentration was measured in muscle, whole‐body, and bone initially and after 12 weeks of feeding. The fluoride concentrations in the samples were determined by alkali fusion and fluoride ion‐selective electrode. Growth, mortality and feed efficiency ratio were not affected by the dietary treatments. The results showed that fluoride concentration in muscle, whole body and bone were not affected by the dietary fluoride level. The fluoride concentration in the tissues showed great variation among replicates of the group given the same diet. Fillets of the fish varied between 0.3 and 1.4 mg fluoride kg^?1 wet weight, whereas the whole‐body concentration of fluoride varied between 3.3 and 6.1 mg kg^?1 wet weight and the fluoride bone concentration varied between 5.8 and 7.2 mg kg^?1 fresh weight. These results suggest that Atlantic salmon are highly tolerant of dietary fluoride given as krill meal with concentration of fluoride up to 350 mg kg^?1 diet, and that accumulation of fluoride from feeding diets containing krill meal does not lead to tissue accumulation in the fish, at least over a short period of time.     

Efficacy of various concentrations of synthetic hormones on the induced breeding of Channa marulius (Sole)

A study was conducted to determine the artificial breeding response, embryonic and larval development of giant snakehead, Channa marulius, with the application of various dosages of stimulatory hormones: Suprefact® (LHRH) agonist and Ovaprim® (GnRH + dopamine inhibitor). First and second hormonal dosages of Suprefact® (diluted) and Ovaprim® (0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 ml for male and 0.8, 0.9, and 1.0 ml for females per kilogram body weight) were used. There were three treatments T₁, T₂, and T₃ and each treatment had three replicates. Male fish were treated with T₁ (0.3), T₂ (0.4), T₃ (0.5) ml kg⁻¹ of body weight while female fish with T₁ (0.8), T₂ (0.9), T₃ (1.0) ml kg⁻¹ of body weight. The results showed that fish stimulated with T₃ (1.0) obtained better fecundity rate (2951.7) followed by T₂ (0.4) (2678.3), while the lowest fecundity (466.7) was recorded in T₁. The numerically higher values of gonado-somatic index (males and females) and fertilization rate appeared in T₂. The highest survival rate (97.1%) was found in T₃ followed by T₂ (97.0%), while the lowest (32.2%) in T₁. In conclusion, the application of Suprefact® and Ovaprim® at 0.4 and 0.5 ml kg⁻¹ body weight for male and 0.9 and 1.0 ml kg⁻¹ for female fish successfully stimulated snakehead fish induced breeding.     

Controlled reproduction of an important indigenous fish species, Spinibarbus denticulatus (Oshima, 1926), in Southeast Asia

Aquaculture of Spinibarbus denticulatus (Oshima, 1926), a fish species indigenous to North Vietnam and Eastern China, is constrained by lack of fingerlings for stocking ponds and cages. As these fish do not naturally breed in captivity, carp pituitary extract (CPE), luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue (LHRHa) with domperidone (DOM) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) were administered at various doses to induce ovulation. A first set of experiments evaluated the response to LHRHa (30, 40 and 50 μg kg⁻¹) with or without DOM (10 mg kg⁻¹), CPE (20, 30 and 40 mg kg⁻¹) and HCG (3000, 4000 and 5000 IU kg⁻¹). A second set of experiments evaluated the dose response to LHRHa (30, 35, 40 and 50 μg kg⁻¹) primed with 6 mg kg⁻¹ of CPE, and HCG (3000, 3500, 4000, 5000 IU kg⁻¹) primed with 6 mg kg⁻¹ of CPE. The treatment groups were compared with each other and the control (injected with 0.9% saline solution). Only 25% and 50% ovulation resulted when treated with LHRHa at 40 and 50 μg kg⁻¹, whereas 100% ovulation was achieved with an addition of DOM to LHRHa. Both 30 and 40 mg kg⁻¹ CPE induced 100% ovulation. However, HCG (4000 and 5000 IU kg⁻¹) induced ovulation in only 33% of females. When primed with CPE, the minimum dose of LHRHa required was 35 μg kg⁻¹ to achieve 70% ovulation. Priming HCG with CPE also resulted in 100% ovulation, and the minimum effective dose of HCG to induce ovulation was 3500 IU kg⁻¹ with 60% ovulation. Fertilization and hatch rates observed in this study with different hormonal stimulation were high (80–93%). The results indicate that while the use of combined hormone strategy has no apparent advantage over a single hormone strategy, LHRHa+DOM (40 μg kg⁻¹+10.0 mg kg⁻¹) and CPE (30 mg kg⁻¹) are most effective in consistently inducing ovulation and thus can be used for commercial hatchery production of S. denticulatus larvae.     

Effects of dietary vitamin C on immunity, growth and survival of Indian major carp Labeo rohita, fingerlings

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of dietary l ‐ascorbic acid (AA) dosages on immunity, growth and survival of the fingerlings of Labeo rohita. AA was supplemented at 0, 100, 200 and 500 mg kg⁻¹ basal diets. Each diet was fed for 8 weeks to duplicate groups of fingerlings of rohu with initial body weight of 35 ± 5 g. Selected biochemical and haematological analyses were evaluated every second week. At the end of the feeding trial of 56 days, fish were divided into two subgroups under each major treatment group for challenge with two pathogens, Aeromonas hydrophila and Edwardsiella tarda. The mortality (%) and agglutinating antibody titre were recorded on 28th day postchallenge. Non‐specific immune parameters like superoxide anion production, lysozyme activity and complement activity increased independently of the levels of AA in the diet. Whereas phagocytic ratio, phagocytic indices, lymphokine production indices and serum bactericidal activity were better in the group of fish fed with 200 mg AA kg⁻¹ feed for 42 days. However, growth parameters such as specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio and survival were better in the group of fish fed with the highest level of AA through feed for 56 days. These data indicated that elevated levels of dietary AA could be recommended for optimum immunity, growth and survival of fingerlings of L. rohita.