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Replacement of fish meal (FM) and oil (FO) by plant sources can alter the feed mineral profile. However, requirements of these nutrients have not been established for gilthead sea bream. The aim of the present study was to obtain information about the adequate levels of some of these minerals (such as Zn, Cu, Mn, Se, Co, Fe and Ca) in diets with low FM and FO levels. Six plant‐based practical diets were supplemented with increasing levels of a multi‐nutrient package for 155 days. Performance parameters, biochemical analyses of whole body, vertebrae, plasma and blood cells; haematocrit; expression of several genes in liver and vertebrae were conducted. Increasing multi‐nutrient package affected fish growth, expression of molecular markers and mineral content in different tissues. A regression method was used to establish a relation between multi‐nutrient package levels and different indicators. However, nutrient interactions made it difficult to obtain clear results and so specific effects of each mineral must be studied in more detail. Mineral supplementation was required for Zn, Cu, Mn, Se and Co, whilst basal levels of Ca were sufficient to cover the optimum levels. On the other hand, there is evidence regarding a possible interaction between Fe and Zn which reduced Fe availability and absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substitution of marine ingredients (FM‐FO) by plant protein and oil sources can modify selenium (Se) levels in feeds. Se plays an important role in the antioxidative defence by forming part of selenoproteins. Se requirements of gilthead sea bream are not accurately determined; therefore, this study was conducted to define Se supplementation levels in low FM‐FO practical diets for sea bream fingerlings. A plant‐based diet containing 0.45 mg Se/kg diet was used as the basal diet. Four other diets were supplemented to contain 0.68, 0.86, 1.00 or 1.70 mg Se/kg diet, supplied as sodium selenite. Sea bream, weighing 12.6 ± 1.4 g, were distributed in triplicate groups per diet and fed for 42 days. Se supplementation up to 1.00 mg Se/kg significantly improved the growth of sea bream, whereas further increase up to 1.70 mg Se/kg diet reduced growth. The results of this study suggest that the optimum dietary levels of sodium selenite in diets with low FM‐FO with basal levels of 0.45 mg Se/kg are around 0.94 mg Se/kg to promote growth of gilthead sea bream juveniles. On the contrary, dietary levels of 1.70 mg Se/kg were found to be excessive and caused growth reduction, increased catalase expression and hydropic degeneration in the liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To describe the effect and the distribution of zinc in different tissues of a representative marine fish species, gilthead seabreams (Sparus aurata Linnaeus, 1758) were fed different diets containing zinc in different sources (organic, inorganic, encapsulated, blood‐rich diet or fishmeal). The effect was monitored by histology in the lens, liver and intestine. In addition, the anterior and posterior intestine was studied by means of autometallography, a histochemical silver‐based staining method to determine the zinc flow and distribution. The histology of lens did not improve by dietary zinc as there was no occurrence of cataracts. In the liver, the experimental diets were correlated with different changes in the tissue architecture. In the intestine, no histological changes were found using haematoxylin and eosin stain. However, with the use of autometallography stain, it was possible to visualize and describe the route that zinc follows through the enterocytes and the lamina propria. Organic and inorganic zinc diet produced the richest silver deposition in the anterior intestine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In order to successfully diversify Mediterranean aquaculture, it is necessary to determine optimum culture conditions of potential candidate species such as greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili). Among culture conditions, rearing temperature is a key factor for achieving optimum growth and maintaining fish welfare. However, little is known about the optimum culture conditions of greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili). Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of three different rearing temperatures (17, 22 and 26°C) during 120 days on growth performance, body morphometry, biochemical composition, gut transit and liver morphology of greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) juveniles. After 120 days of rearing, fish raised at 26°C showed higher (p < .05) body weight and specific growth rate than fish held at lower temperatures, as well as improved feed utilization, protein efficiency and nutrient retention percentages. Fish stomach emptying was faster (p < .05) in fish raised at 26°C than in fish held at 22°C and 17°C. Similar results were obtained for gut transit time, being gut emptying faster (p < .05) in fish reared at 26°C than in fish cultured at lower temperatures. Rearing temperature also induced changes in fish morphology which resulted in a higher (p < .05) caudal propulsion efficiency index for fish reared at 26°C. Based on these results, we conclude that greater amberjack fingerlings perform better at 26°C than at 22°C or 17°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 24-week feeding trial was conducted to study the possible effect of dietary canthaxanthin on red porgy growth and lipid composition. Two triplicate groups were established to test two experimental diets: (1) Control group fed a diet with no added carotenoids, and (2) canthaxanthin group ( CTX100) fed a diet with 100 mg of synthetic canthaxanthin per kilogram of diet ( CTX). Final and eviscerated weight were increased ( P < 0.05) in the CTX100 treatment. The rest of growth performance parameters were not affected by the CTX diet. Whole-fish total lipid content was decreased ( P < 0.05) in CTX100 fish. In the liver, total lipids were not affected; however, saturated fatty acids in CTX100 treatment were significantly lower together with a higher n-3 PUFA and a lower n-6 PUFA, therefore increasing the n-3/n-6 ratio. Liver histology of CTX100 fish revealed decreased lipid vacuolization thus, significantly lowering hepatocyte area. In the muscle, total lipids were not affected. Similar to the liver, an increase of n-3 PUFA and decrease n-6 PUFA, led to a significant increase of the n-3/n-6 ratio. Concerning plasma, only total cholesterol ( TC) was significantly affected by the CTX diet. Dietary canthaxanthin has an effect on red porgy lipid composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate three products derived from krill as sources of essential fatty acids, protein and, particularly, phospholipids in microdiets for larval gilthead seabream ( Sparus aurata). Their effect on larval performance, biochemical composition and histological development was investigated. The addition of krill phospholipids, rich in highly unsaturated fatty acids, improved larval sea bream growth in terms of weight and length, enhanced hepatic utilization of dietary lipids and reduced the incidence of enterocyte injuries. These results confirm the higher nutritional value of marine phospholipids for the early development of marine fish larvae in comparison with soybean phospholipids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

River crab (RC) meal ( Procambarus clarkii) and marine crab (MC) meal ( Chaceon affinis) were tested as a partial replacement for fish meal in diets for red porgy ( Pagrus pagrus), and their effects on growth performance, fish proximate composition and skin colouration were evaluated. Red porgy were fed during 165 days with five diets. High-quality fish meal diet was used as a control diet (CD). Protein of fish meal in the control was replaced by increasing the dietary levels of protein derived from RC and MC by up to 10% and 20% of each of them (RC10, RC20, MC10 and MC20). Fish fed on MC20 showed the highest values in feed intake, weight gain and growth (%). No differences were found in FCR and protein efficiency ratio among the treatments. Inclusion of both crab meals in diets significantly decreased the lipid content in whole fish compared with the control animals. On the other hand, no differences in muscle composition were found between the diets. Feeding both crab meals resulted in colour improvement compared with that of the control fish, with better hue values for the RC meal group than those for the MC meal group. The crab meals tested in the present study are suitable as a partial replacement for fish meal in diets for the red porgy, with the MC meal improving growth and both crabs meals improving skin colour, with further improvements in skin colour produced in fish-fed diets containing the RC meal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]