Tropical gar, Atractosteus tropicus, is a carnivorous fish species from Southern México with high value and acceptance in local markets. Therefore, the present study aims to spare proteins in diets for larviculture of this species. An experiment was performed using three different experimental diets with increasing carbohydrate levels based on potato starch (S) and decreasing protein content (P) and total energy: 16% S (16% S–44% P), 22% S (22% S–40% P) and 28% S (28% S–36% P). Tropical gar larvae (five days post-hatching, 2.1 mm average notochordal length) were assessed for growth, survival, degree of cannibalism, and digestive enzyme activities for 30 days. Highest growth and survival (24%), as well as the lowest cannibalism (33%), was seen in larvae fed the 28% S diet, and these larvae also had the highest lipase, amylase and glucosidase activities (0.28, 0.56 and 0.11 units, respectively). Protease activity (alkaline protease, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and leucine aminopeptidase) was higher in the larvae fed the 22% S diet than in those given the 16% S and 28% S diets. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of potato starch at 28% S enhanced growth, survival and some digestive enzyme activities, and decreased cannibalism in the larval gar. Potato starch could replace dietary protein as a major source of energy for A. tropicus larvae, thereby reducing the cost of diets.

This study undertakes the characterization of digestive proteases in the juvenile green cichlid, Cichlasoma beani. The results obtained showed a higher activity of alkaline proteases (0.14 ± 0.01 U mg protein⁻¹) compared to acid proteases (0.07 ± 0.01 U mg protein⁻¹) in this species. The optimum temperature of the alkaline proteases was 65 °C and these enzymes were more thermostable to temperature changes than the acid proteases, characterized by an optimal temperature of 55 °C. The pH optimum was 2 for acid proteases, and 11 for alkaline proteases, which were also more stable to changes in pH between 8 and 10. The use of specific inhibitors showed an acid protease inhibition of 88% with pepstatin A as inhibitor. In the zymogram SDS-PAGE analysis of alkaline proteases, five active fractions were revealed, indicating the presence of serine proteases. These results confirm that both alkaline and acid proteases are involved in the digestion of C. beani, and suggest that this species is omnivorous with carnivorous tendencies. The present study contributes to our knowledge about the digestive physiology of C. beani, and can be applied towards improved understanding of the kinds of protein sources that could be used in the development of inerts diets.

A 70-day experimental trial was performed to evaluate the contribution of biofloc to the nutrition of Macrobrachium rosenbergii 15 days old postlarvae (PL) (average 82.00 ± 19.71 mg) fed different crude protein (P) and lipids (L) levels in zero-water exchange culture tanks. Six biofloc treatments (BFT) as experimental diets with 15, 20, or 25% P levels and 5 or 8% L levels were managed: BFT-15/5; BFT-15/8; BFT-20/5; BFT-20/8; BFT-25/5; BFT-25/8, and a clear-water control without biofloc fed with 25% P and 8% L (CW-25/8). The experiment was done in triplicate in 21-60 L plastic tanks containing 10 prawns tank-1. At the end of the experiment, survival of prawns was above 66%, with no significant differences among experimental groups (P > 0.05). The best growth performance was observed in the experimental prawns maintained in BFT-20/5, BFT-20/8, BF-25/5, and BFT-25/8 compared to the control (P < 0.001). The feed conversion rate of the prawns in BFT-20/5 was significantly lower than that in control (P < 0.001); the best P efficiency ratio and productive P value were observed in all BFT compared to control prawns (P < 0.001). Results showed that it is feasible to use low concentrations of P (20%) and L (5%) in diets to grow giant freshwater prawn PL in a biofloc system. Results also demonstrated that biofloc contributes to the P and L requirements of cultured freshwater prawn PL, as indicated by improved feed utilization, P retention, and growth performance.