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The effect of cover on food consumption and growth in two freshwater fish species used in experimental studies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

RJ Wootton ,
N Handisyde  and
C Rowe
RJ Wootton*
Affiliation:
Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Wales Aberystwyth, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, Wales, UK
N Handisyde
Affiliation:
Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Wales Aberystwyth, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, Wales, UK
C Rowe
Affiliation:
Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Wales Aberystwyth, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, Wales, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: [email protected]
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Abstract

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To define suitable holding conditions for fish used in experimental studies on food consumption and growth, the effect of cover on growth at two ration levels was quantified for immature individuals of two common, freshwater species: the threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus: Gasterosteidae) and the European minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus: Cyprinidae). In the European minnow, the presence of cover significantly increased growth rates and also the rate of food consumption at ad libitum rations; however, cover had no significant effect on the growth of the threespine stickleback. In both species, fish fed ad libitum rations had higher growth rates than fish fed 4% of body weight per day. This study illustrates the need for species specific holding conditions and illustrates an approach to welfare using measurements of traits closely related to fitness.

Keywords

animal welfareappetiteconditionEuropean minnowspecific growth ratethreespine stickleback
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 15 , Issue 3 , August 2006 , pp. 309 - 313
Copyright
© 2006 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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