In aquaculture, the application of natural mineral raw materials with their ion exchange and adsorption properties is on the increase, which contributes to an increase in the economic performance of fish farms. The Southern Federal District in Russia, the leader in fish production, has active deposits of zeolites, bentonites and glauconites classified as high-grade mineral raw resources containing up to 70% of active components, though almost not used in fish farming. Our research focuses on studying the productive and biological effect of mineral raw materials of the Southern Federal District (Russia) as a mineral supplement to fish feeds (the case of the zeolites from the Proval'skoe deposit in Rostov Region). Zeolite in the amount of 3% was introduced into the starter feeds for sterlet. The studies have shown that zeolites from the Proval'skoye deposit applied to feeds contribute to an increase in weight growth (p≤0.05) and survival of sterlet, to a feed conversion decrease and an increase in protein and energy efficiency ratio, positively affect the composition of fatty acids and the stability of lipid peroxidation. The results obtained suggest the use of mineral raw materials from the Southern Federal District as a dietary component.

Results are presented of studies on changes in the amount of hydroperoxides (malondialdehyde, diene conjugates and Schiff base) and A, C and α-tocopherol vitamins in the liver of two-year-old carp with aeromonosis in the initial and chronic stages from the farm ponds. An increase in the activity of lipid peroxidation from the onset of the disease to its chronic form has been borne out by a consistent increase in hydroperoxides and a decrease in the activity of vitamins A, C and α-tocopherol being the natural antioxidants of the fish organism. The opinion was expressed that the study of energy losses unauthorized by the fish organism will help optimize the treatment of carp aeromonosis and preserve the nutritional value of fish meat.