Abstract Continuous illumination and increased feeding periods have enhanced growth in commercial fish species. However, oxygen consumption under these conditions has yet to be previously assessed in agastric short-intestine fish. This study evaluated Chirostoma estor (Atherinopsidae) oxygen consumption under three specific feeding and light regimes: resting-unfed, routine-fed, and continuous light/feeding. Fish in the continuous light/feeding condition presented oxygen consumption levels 60 and 20% higher than resting-unfed and routine-fed fish, respectively. The latter implies that constant high oxygen supply levels are required to satisfy the demand for C. estor raised under these high growth rate conditions. The present study shows the relevance of determining oxygen consumption levels during continuous illumination and extended feeding periods to consider optimal oxygen levels required to achieve better performance indicators, such as the growth and welfare of atherinopsids and species with similar digestive configurations.

Resumen La iluminación continua y el aumento de frecuencias alimenticias han mejorado el crecimiento de peces en cultivo. Sin embargo, el consumo de oxígeno en estas condiciones no se ha evaluado en peces agástricos de intestino corto. Este estudio evaluó el consumo de oxígeno de Chirostoma estor bajo tres regímenes específicos de alimentación y luz: reposo sin alimentación, alimentación de rutina y alimentación/luz continua. En este último tratamiento los peces presentaron niveles de consumo de oxígeno de 60 y 20% más altos que los peces en reposo y con alimentación rutinaria, respectivamente. Esto implica que se requieren niveles elevados y constantes de suministro de oxígeno para satisfacer la demanda de C. estor en cultivo en condiciones crecimiento acelerado. El presente estudio muestra la relevancia de determinar los niveles de consumo de oxígeno bajo protocolos de crecimiento acelerado para lograr mejores indicadores de desempeño de otras especies con configuraciones digestivas similares.

ABSTRACT Integrative studies are important for a better understanding of the functional development of fish digestive systems and the consequent design of suitable feeding regimes and ad-hoc diets. To characterize the ontogeny of digestive function in larvae and juveniles of two atherinopsids from South America, Odontesthes bonariensis and O. hatcheri, morphologic, histologic, and intestinal enzyme biochemical analyses were performed. Both species showed a functional digestive system from one week after hatching (wah) with a sustained high-level activity of the cytosolic enzyme leucine alanine peptidase (leu-ala) until 9 and 13 wah in O. hatcheri and O. bonariensis, respectively. Maximum specific leu-ala activities in both species were higher compared to other agastric and most gastric fish. These results and the abundant pinocytic vacuoles in the posterior intestine suggest that cytosolic digestion is crucial for these species. It seems that their apparent anatomically simple digestive system is compensated by an uncommonly early development and function of the digestive tract and accessory organs accompanied by high intestinal cytosolic activity. The above findings contribute to the understanding of the Atherinopsidae digestive model and, for the first time, suggest that under farming conditions, these species could be weaned at an early developmental stage with an appropriate balanced diet.

ABSTRACT A feeding trial was performed to assess dietary protein:lipid ratios for the grow-out phase of the bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus). Nine balanced isoenergetic diets were formulated, combining three different protein levels (300, 400, and 500 g kg−1) with three different lipid levels (50, 100, and 200 g kg−1), designated as P300/50L, P300/100L, P300/200L, P400/50L, P400/100L, P400/200L, P500/50L, P500/100L, and P500/200L. Additionally, a commercial fish feed, commonly used in Mexico to feed bullfrogs, was also tested during the experiment. Growth performance, animal performance parameters, carcass composition, and fatty acid profiles in muscle and liver were evaluated. The feeding trial results showed that all the experimental diets enhanced growth, feed conversion ratio, and frog-leg weight compared with the commercial diet. Bullfrogs had higher growth with 400 and 500 g kg−1 of dietary protein regardless of dietary lipid content. It was also notable that with the P500/200L diet, frogs doubled the weight of those fed the commercial diet. DHA, EPA, and total omega-3 fatty acids were double in muscle and two to eight times higher in the liver compared with the commercial diet. In all cases, the final proximal composition of carcass reflected the diet composition. It is suggested that a diet containing 400 g kg−1 of protein and 50 g kg−1 lipids (protein/lipid ratio: 7.4; gross energy: 18.2 MJ kg−1) is adequate for bullfrog performance during the grow-out phase to achieve market size in a shorter period, thus, reducing farming risks and production costs. proteinlipid growout grow out Lithobates catesbeianus. catesbeianus . catesbeianus) formulated 300, 300 (300 kg1 kg 1 50, (50 100 20 kg−1, , P30050L PL P300 50L P L P300/50L P300100L 100L P300/100L P300200L 200L P300/200L P40050L P400 P400/50L P400100L P400/100L P400200L P400/200L P50050L P500 P500/50L P500100L P500/100L P500200L Additionally bullfrogs experiment parameters evaluated ratio frogleg frog leg 40 kg− content DHA EPA omega3 omega 3 omega- cases 5 protein/lipid 7.4 74 7 4 energy 182 18 2 18. period thus costs 30 (30 (5 10 P30 P40 P50 7. (3 ( P3 P4 P5