A Study on Diet Composition and Feeding Habitats of Sillago sihama (Forsskål, 1775) in Coastal Waters of Bandar Abbas

The diet composition and feeding habits of Sillago sihama , were studied in the northern Persian Gulf restricted to coastal waters of Bandar Abbas within 14 months period, from July 2007 up to August 2008. Biometrical and anatomical measurements were carried out, and biological surveys were conducted on 572 specimens (238 Male and 306 Female). These samples were collected from coastal waters of Bandar Abbas by pool and line and Moshta. The measurements of the minimum and maximum total lengths and weights were 10.6 to 45.5 cm and 8.58 to 196.27 g, respectively. The calculated level of (R2) (correlations of total length & weight), indicated correlations between length and weight of this fish, and b was 2.75 that shows the growth is isometric. The results indicated that this species, having the Relative Length of Gut, RLG = 0.47± 0.15, is carnivorous. Examining the changes in the index of stomach emptiness by the percentage of CV = 59.88% indicates that this fish is Moderate feeder. Proven by the fact that benthos was taken as principle food, Crustacean, Shrimps, and fish as secondary food and other kinds of food as random. Among the food items, benthos, crustaceans, razor clam, crab, shrimp, fish, polychaetes, oligocheata, clams, shells, detritus, hermit crab, crayfish, were 59.15, 12.82, 6.22, 5.99, 5.91, 3.09, 2.55, 2.05, 0.83, 0.56, 0.46, 0.20 and 0.16 respectively. The level of feeding increased in February, before spawning and decreased in May, simultaneously with the spawning season

Comparing effects of astaxanthin, turmeric and Spirulina platensis on growth, immunological parameters and coloration in white Oscar, Astronotus ocellatus

The present study aimed to determine the effects of four experimental diets on growth, immunological parameters, and coloration of the white Oscar, Astronotus ocellatus (Agassiz in Spix and Agassiz, 1831).  So that, 120 individuals, with an average weight of 7.5 ± 0.5 g, were randomly distributed in 12 aquaria (10 fish in each aquarium). The fish were fed with 4 diets as follows: pigment-free (as the control), astaxanthin, turmeric powder, and spirulina powder (100 mg kg-1) for eight weeks. At the end of the experiment, growth and immunological indices, as well as coloration were measured. There was a significant difference between control and the astaxanthin treatment in all growth indices except for condition factor (p0.05). There was a significant difference between some treatments in the intensity of primary and secondary colors (p<0.05). The findings exhibited that all three types of pigments employed in this study could improve the growth factors, immunological parameters, and coloration of white Oscar; however, astaxanthin outperformed the others