Michael H. Schwarz

Chemical and Electrical Approaches to Sedation of Cobia: Induction, Recovery, and Physiological Responses to Sedation

Abstract To support the growing interest in marine fisheries research in areas such as biotelemetry, tagging, and tracking, we assessed the ability of various sedatives to facilitate this research in juvenile cobias Rachycentron canadum (∼300 g), namely, tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222; 150 mg/L), carbon dioxide (CO2; ∼750 mg/L), eugenol (60 mg/L), benzocaine (150 mg/L), and pulsed-DC electrosedation (100 V, 30 Hz, 25% duty cycle, 5-s exposure). Induction times (CO2 [z] > benzocaine [y] > eugenol [y] > MS-222 [y] > electrosedation [x]), recovery of equilibrium (CO2 [z] > eugenol [z] > MS-222 [y] > benzocaine [y] > electrosedation [x]), and responsiveness to tactile stimulus (eugenol [z] > MS-222 [y] > benzocaine [y] > CO2 [xy] > electrosedation [x]) differed significantly among the sedative treatments (treatments with the same letters are not significantly different). Total handling time from initial sedative exposure to recovery differed among the sedatives as well (CO2 [z] > eugenol [y] > benzocaine [x] > MS-222 [x] > electrosedation [w]), with cumulative means ± SEs of 5.9 ± 0.2 min for CO2, 4.1 ± 0.2 for eugenol, 2.7 ± 0.2 min for benzocaine and MS-222, and 1.0 ± 0.2 min for electrosedation. Physiological responses differed significantly over time, with transient increases in plasma Cortisol, glucose, osmolality, and lactate that were resolved within 6 h. The overall magnitude of the physiological responses differed among sedatives, depending on the response variable; however, in each case, CO2 elicited the greatest response. Although variations in induction and recovery times were observed, it is likely that these differences can be reasonably accommodated within the context of typical research by adjusting the sedative treatments or allowing for longer induction and recovery times as needed.

Amending reduced fish-meal feeds with marine lecithin, but not soy lecithin, improves the growth of juvenile cobia and may attenuate heightened responses to stress challenge

Sparing of marine resources in aquafeeds can be environmentally and economically advantageous; however, fish meal (FM) replacement can affect the production performance and physiological competence. Phospholipids are increasingly understood to be involved in maintaining growth and vigour in fish and may be deficient in reduced FM formulations. Accordingly, we evaluated the growth and stress tolerance of juvenile cobia fed typical (50% FM) or reduced FM feeds (12% FM) with or without phospholipid amendment [1% marine lecithin (12% FM + Marine PL) or soy lecithin (12% FM + Soy PL)] for 6 weeks in triplicate tanks (N = 3) in a recirculation aquaculture system. The 50% FM feed yielded significantly superior growth and growth efficiency in comparison with the 12% FM and 12% FM+ Soy PL feeds, but the 12% FM+ Marine PL feed yielded comparable results to 50% FM feed. A low-water stress challenge induced elevated plasma glucose, cortisol and lactate levels in all treatments. However, a significant interaction (diet × stress) effect suggested a lesser cortisol response among fish fed the 12% FM+ Marine PL and 50% FM diets. These findings demonstrate that growth performance and, perhaps, resilience of cobia raised on reduced FM feeds may be improved by the addition of marine-origin phospholipid to the diet.

Performance of Advanced Juvenile Cobia, Rachycentron canadum, Reared Under Different Thermal Regimes: Evidence for Compensatory Growth and a Method for Cold Banking

ABSTRACT Two trials were undertaken to examine the growth response of juvenile cobia, Rachycentron canadum, at varying temperatures. The initial trial was conducted to determine the effect of various temperatures (18, 23, and 29°C) on weight gain and feed efficiency. The second trial investigated the effect of elevating water temperature in which fish maintained at 18°C and 23°C to a temperature close to their optimum (29°C). The latter study was undertaken in order to determine the effect of thermal shifts upon subsequent growth response of the species. Such information will assist commercial producers in developing various culture guidelines. As anticipated, differences (P < 0.01) in weight gain were recorded among all treatments, although remarkably, feed efficiency did not differ for cobia held at 23°C and 29°C. Following thermal shift, cobia subjected to the largest temperature change (18–29°C) illustrated an immediate growth response, but specific growth rates (SGR) did not exceed that of cobia held at 29°C for the duration of the trial. Nevertheless, when SGR were examined using fish of similar size (i.e., derived from different time points during the study) evidence for growth compensation was obtained. This study illustrates that cobia can be held at reduced temperatures, without detrimental impact on future performance, as a means of maintaining animals at smaller size for production and experimental purposes: “Cold banking.”

Dietary Protein Requirement of Southern Flounder, Paralichthys lethostigma

Abstract A 12-week feeding trial was conducted to determine the protein requirement of southern flounder, Paralichthys lethostigma. Diets varied crude protein (CP) levels (35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60%), while dietary lipid levels were held constant at 14% and dextrin was included to maintain diets isocaloric, with all diets providing 370 kcal available energy/100 g diet. Weight gain (percent of initial weight) ranged from 292-394% and was not significantly affected by dietary protein levels. Feed efficiency ratio values (g gain/g fed) ranged between 0.40-0.54 (P > 0.05). Protein efficiency ratio (g weight gained/g dietary protein fed) did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) between groups (0.9-1.27). The protein requirement was determined by relating percent increase in weight gain with dietary protein levels utilizing two statistical methodologies: least squares regression (protein requirement: 50.3% CP) and a four-parameter logistic growth curve (50.8% CP).

Efficacy of Concentrated Algal Paste During Greenwater Phase of Cobia Larviculture

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to determine if concentrated algal paste could effectively replace live algae during the greenwater stage of cobia fingerling production without negative impact upon larval growth or survival. Mean cobia survival per tank from 2 dph through post weaning at 28 dph for the live algae treatment was 24.44 ± 2.43% (mean ± SD) as compared to 24.47 ± 2.48% for the algal paste treatment. Furthermore, the number of fish produced per liter for the live algae treatment was 2.44 ± 0.24 fish/L compared to 2.47 ± 0.25 fish /L recorded from the algal paste treatment. Mean fish weight for cobia weanlings from the live algae treatment was 0.417 ± 0.059 g compared to 0.411 ± 0.026 g for the algal paste treatment. These observations demonstrate that during the greenwater stage of cobia larviculture, live algae can be completely replaced with commercially available, concentrated algal paste without negative impact upon cobia growth, survival, or resultant weanling production per unit volume.

Thermal Optima for the Culture of Juvenile Summer Flounder, Paralichthys dentatus

Abstract Summer flounder, Paralichthys dentatus, aquaculture has shown promise over the recent past and a considerable body of knowledge is amassing for this species of flatfish. Even with the amassing data, basic information on environmental parameter ranges to maintain in indoor culture systems is still lacking. Therefore, the current study was undertaken to elucidate a temperature range that may be best suited for juvenile summer flounder production in indoor recirculating aquaculture. A 10-week study was designed to address 19, 24 and 29°C as potential temperatures for the culture of summer flounder. Fish averaging 9.5 g initial weight were stocked into triplicate 20-L aquaria per treatment after conditioning to their respective temperatures for 1 week. Fish were fed to apparent satiation twice daily a 50% crude protein fingerling diet and weighed every 2 weeks to assess growth rates. Juvenile summer flounder grew better at 24 and 29°C (167 and 197% increase initial weight, respectively) than at 19°C (97% increase in initial weight) with increased individual fish variation within a treatment as temperature increased above 19°C. Feed efficiency was greatest at 24 and 29°C (0.65 and 0.57, respectively), but survival decreased at temperatures above 19°C (93, 60 and 57% for 19, 24 and 29°C, respectively). There was no effect of temperature on the hepatosomatic index or interior muscle ratio, but the finray muscle ratio was slightly elevated when flounder were cultured at 29°C. The lipid content of the finray muscle and liver also increased at 29°C. Therefore, 24°C appears to be the best culture temperature for summer flounder with respect to growth rates and efficiency, but survival and homogeneity of flounder may be lowered at temperatures above 19°C.

Feeding Rate and Frequency Affect Growth of Juvenile Atlantic Spadefish

Abstract The Atlantic spadefish Chaetodipterus faber is an excellent candidate for aquaculture development, but success will depend on the identification of proper feeds and feeding regimens for this species. Accordingly, we evaluated the growth performance of juvenile Atlantic spadefish (3.60 ± 0.03 g [mean ± SE]) fed at rates of 3, 5, or 7% of body weight (BW) per day, either in a single feeding (1×) or in three equal feedings (3×). Weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, and feed intake were significantly affected by both feeding rate and frequency. Weight gain and the specific growth rate increased significantly with feeding rate, and growth was generally greater and more efficient in the 3× groups than in the 1× groups. Fish fed at higher feeding rates accumulated significantly more lipid within the body and had associated decreases in moisture, protein, and ash content, but carcass composition was unaffected by feeding frequency. We suggest that the growth of juvenile Atlantic spad...

Efficacy of Hydrogen Peroxide in Marine Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Holding Summer Flounder, Paralichthys dentatus

Abstract The effect of continuous dosing of hydrogen peroxide to a marine recirculating aquaculture system holding summer flounder was examined. Hydrogen peroxide is a strong oxidizing agent that may affect many chemical and biological processes. Results indicate that continuous dosing of hydrogen peroxide at the level tested is not an effective method to improve water quality in marine systems.