Four isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets containing fresh fish oil (peroxide value, POV: 11.5 meq kg−1, diet FR) and three degrees of oxidized fish oil (POV: 132, 277 and 555 meq kg−1, diet OX132, OX277 and OX555, respectively) were formulated to investigate the effects of dietary oxidized fish oil on growth performance, body composition, antioxidant defence mechanism and liver histology of juvenile largemouth bass. After a 12‐week feeding trail, a proportion of approximately 9% of Micropterus salmoides showed inflammation and haemorrhage at the base of dorsal, pectoral and tail fin in both groups OX277 and OX555. Fish fed oxidized oil diets obtained significantly higher (P < 0.05) weight gain and specific growth rate because of their remarkable higher feed intakes, compared with the fresh oil receiving group. The analysis of biometric parameters and body composition indicated significant differences (P < 0.05) in various test diets. The activities of hepatic catalase and superoxide dismutase were significantly stimulated (P < 0.05) by oxidized oil ingestion. Hepatic glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glutathione‐S‐transferase activities were significantly higher (P < 0.05), and liver glutathione content was markedly lower (P < 0.05) in group OX555 than the other treatments. Oxidized oil consumption resulted in marked depletion (P < 0.05) of vitamin E concentration in plasma, liver and muscle tissue, increased plasma and muscle malondialdehyde content along with decreased haematocrit value. Histological examinations indicated that hepatocytes with lipid vacuoles and nuclear migration were shown in groups OX277 and OX555. The overall results in this study suggested that an increased oxidative stress in M. salmoides fed oxidized lipid may account for their stimulated hepatic antioxidant defences, vitamin E depletion in plasma and certain tissues, and pathological changes. The detrimental effect of oxidation products on fish health and the unexpectedly enhanced feed intake of oxidized feeds in M. salmoides underline the importance that cares should be taken to minimize dietary oxidation products to the greatest extent possible.

A 63‐day growth trial was undertaken to estimate the effects of supplemented lysine and methionine with different dietary protein levels on growth performance and feed utilization in Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Six plant‐based practical diets were prepared, and 32CP, 30CP and 28CP diets were formulated to contain 320 g kg−1, 300 g kg−1 and 280 g kg−1 crude protein without lysine and methionine supplementation. In the supplementary group, lysine and methionine were added to formulate 32AA, 30AA and 28AA diets with 320 g kg−1, 300 g kg−1 and 280 g kg−1 dietary crude protein, respectively, according to the whole body amino acid composition of Grass Carp. In the groups without lysine and methionine supplementation, weight gain (WG, %) and specific growth rate (SGR, % day−1) of the fish fed 32CP diet were significantly higher than that of fish fed 30CP and 28CP diets, but no significant differences were found between 30CP‐ and 28CP‐diet treatments. WG and SGR of the fish fed 32AA and 30AA diets were significantly higher than that of fish fed 28AA diets, and the performance of grass carp was also significantly improved when fed diets with lysine and methionine supplementation (P < 0.05), and the interaction between dietary protein level and amino acid supplementation was noted between WG and SGR (P < 0.05). Feed intake (FI) was significantly increased with the increase in dietary protein level and the supplementation of lysine and methionine (P < 0.05), but feed conversion ratio (FCR) showed a significant decreasing trend (P < 0.05). Two days after total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) concentration test, the values of TAN discharged by the fish 8 h after feeding were 207.1, 187.5, 170.6, 157.3, 141.3 and 128.9 mg kg−1 body weight for fish fed 32CP, 32AA, 30CP, 30AA, 28CP and 28AA diets, respectively. TAN excretion by grass carp was reduced in plant‐based practical diets with the increase in dietary protein level and the supplementation of lysine and methionine (P < 0.05). The results indicated that lysine and methionine supplementation to the plant protein sources‐based practical diets can improve growth performance and feed utilization of grass carp, and the dietary crude protein can be reduced from 320 g kg−1 to 300 g kg−1 through balancing amino acids profile. The positive effect was not observed at 280 g kg−1 crude protein level.

In order to investigate the effects of lysine and dissolved oxygen on grass carp, the grass carp were fed with 13, 15 and 17 g kg −1 lysine diet at about 6 mg L−1 (high dissolved oxygen, HO group) or 3.5 mg L−1 (low dissolved oxygen, LO group) dissolved oxygen level, for 8 weeks. The fish were fed to apparent satiation by hand. The results showed that apparent digestibility of protein, energy and dry matter were decreased significantly when grass carp were fed at 3.5 mg L−1 dissolved oxygen, and feed intake (FI) was also inhibited by low dissolved oxygen (P < 0.05). Weight gain, protein retention, protein efficiency, feed conversion ratio and amino acid retention of fish at 6 mg L−1 dissolved oxygen level were significantly improved at 3.5 mg L−1 dissolved oxygen level (P < 0.05). Weight gain, protein and amino acid retention, and feed efficiency of grass carp at the two dissolved oxygen levels were significantly improved by lysine supplementation (P < 0.05). The dietary lysine level and dissolved oxygen of water had an interaction effect on feed conversion ratios (P < 0.05). Grass carp fed at low dissolved oxygen level showed lower liver protein and fat contents. Plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity of grass carp fed at 3.5 mg L−1 dissolved oxygen level was significantly increased compared to 6 mg L−1 dissolved oxygen level (P < 0.05). Our results show that low dissolved oxygen level of water is harmful to the liver of grass carp.