This study was designed to determine the dietary lysine requirement of juvenile Jian carp (cyprinus carpio var. Jian). A total of 990 juvenile Jian carps (initial weight 7.89 ± 0.04 g) were randomly allocated six groups of each three replicates, feeding isonitrogenous (320 g kg )1 crude protein) and isolipidic (50 g kg )1 crude fat) diets containing graded levels of coated L L-lysine, with dietary lysine content ranging from 22 to 69 g kg )1 of protein, respectively, for 80 days. Final weight, protein deposition and protein production value were significantly improved in response to the increasing levels of dietary lysine up to 59 g kg )1 of protein and remained nearly constant thereafter. Whole-body protein content followed a similar pattern as growth parameters in relation to dietary lysine level. Hepatopancreas and intestine protein content, hepatopancreas index (HSI) and intestine index (ISI) were positively affected by dietary lysine level. The dietary lysine requirement of juvenile Jian carp estimated by broken line analysis based on weight gain was 59 g kg )1 of protein. KEY WORDS

A 60‐day feeding trial was carried out to investigate the effect of iron on growth, body composition and digestive enzyme activities. Diets with seven levels of iron (53.9, 90.0, 115.6, 146.1, 176.0, 215.8 and 266.0 mg iron kg−1 diet) were fed to Jian carp (initial weight 11.4 ± 0.0 g). Per cent weight gain (PWG), feed efficiency (FE) and protein efficiency ratio were the lowest in fish fed the basal diet (P < 0.05). Body protein content was increased with the increasing iron levels (P < 0.05), but moisture, lipid and ash of fish were not significantly affected by dietary iron levels (P > 0.05). Activities of trypsin, lipase, α‐amylase, Na+, K+‐ATPase, alkaline phosphatase and gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase were improved with increasing dietary iron levels. Serum iron were significantly enhanced with dietary iron levels up to 146.1 mg iron kg−1 diet, and plateaued. In conclusion, iron improved digestive enzyme activities of juvenile Jian carp and the dietary iron requirement for serum iron of juvenile Jian carp (11.4–64.0 g) was 147.4 mg iron kg−1 diet with ferrous fumarate as the iron source.