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Haematological parameters are often used as health status and stress indicators in fish. However, information on the effects of artificial photoperiods on these parameters is scarce and ambiguous. The consequences of three different artificial photoperiod regimes [light/day 12 h:12 h (LD 12:12) for 150 days as controls; LD 14:10 and LD 24:0, both for an initial 60 days, and then LD 12:12 for the remaining 90 days] were evaluated in trout. In all fish the haemogram and the erythrocyte production index (EPI) were assessed at days 7, 14, 30 and 60 (phase 1) and at days 90, 120 and 150 (phase 2). At the end of phase 1, photoperiods LD 14:10 and 24:0 induced higher production of immature (late basophilic) erythrocytes (0.06-0.08 · 10 12 cells/l, P < 0.05) and elevated EPI (young erythrocytes = 1.6 in LD 14:10, 2.25 in LD 24:0; late basophilic erythrocytes = 4.1-4.9 in LD 14:10, 3.3 in LD 24:0) than in controls (late basophilic erythrocytes = 0.02-0.04 · 10 12 cells/l; EPI young erythrocytes = 0.2-1.0; EPI late basophilic erythrocytes = 1.4-2.7). During phase 2, only reduced numbers of lymphocytes and thrombocytes were observed at day 150 in the LD 14:00 group. An increase in the EPI (1.9) of control young erythrocytes was found at day 150.

California halibut Paralichthys californicus is an important commercial species with high aquaculture potential in Baja California Sur, Me´xico. To optimize the feeding process using live prey and/or inert diets, we evaluated alkaline proteases, pepsin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, leucine aminopeptidase, lipase, a-amylase, and acid and alkaline phosphatase activities on starved larvae and larvae fed live prey. Highest activities were observed for alkaline protease, trypsin, chymotrypsin, leucine aminopeptidase, and alkaline phosphatase in feeding larvae than starved larvae on day 4 after hatching. At day 5, a sizeable increase in all enzymatic activities was detected in feeding larvae. Alkaline protease, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and alkaline phosphatase decreases progressively from day 5 until day 18. At day 18, a slight pepsin activity was observed. This was considered an indicator of the start of digestive system maturation. We concluded that total enzymatic equipment for this species is complete between day 18 and 30 after hatching. Based on this evidence, early weaning from live prey to inert feed would be possible at this time.

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