Replacement of fish oil with canola vegetable oil based diets on growth and survival of the Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) fry

The effect replacement of various kilka fish oil with canola oil was investigated on growth indices, body composition, and digestive enzymes of Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii). One hundred and eighty fry fish (22.5±2 2.09 g average weight) were fed with four isonitroginus and isolipid diets (44 and 14%) (1: 100% fish oil (FO100), 2: 100 % of canola oil (CO100), 3: 50% fish oil+50% canola oil (CO50+FO50) and 4: 70% fish oil+30% canola oil (FO100+CO30)) for 10 weeks. The mean growth and feed efficiency indices in the fish fed with FO100 and CO100 diets were significantly lower than CO50+FO50 and FO100+CO30 (P<0.05). The changes in the canola oil/fish oil ratio caused changes in the body moisture and ash contents (P<0.05), but had no significant effect on the body protein (P>0.05). The lipase and chymotrypsin levels in the fish fed with CO50+FO50 diet were significantly higher than the fish fed with FO100 and CO100 diet. The results of this study indicated that using a combination of vegetable oil and fish oil in equal proportions has a relatively better effect on the growth indices, body composition, and digestive enzymes of Siberian sturgeon in the growth stage.