Effects of Photoperiod Manipulation on Growth Performance and Hematological Responses of Juvenile Caspian Roach Rutilus rutilus caspicus

A 8-week trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of photoperiod manipulation on the growth performance and hematological parameters of juvenile Caspian roach, Rutilus rutilus caspicus (average weight 1.46 ± 0.12 g mean±SD) reared under five photoperiods (24 h Light, 24L; 18 h Light & 6 h Dark, 18L:6D; 12 h Light & 12 h Dark, 12L:12D; 6 h Light & 18 h Dark, 6L:18D; 24 h Dark, 24D) with constant light intensity 1,500 lx on the water surface. Triplicate of 20 fish were allocated into each of 15 fiberglass tanks of 50 L capacity and they were fed three times per day with the commercial feed (SFK, Co., Sari - Iran) contains 50.0% protein and 10.5% lipid. At the end of experimental period, final body weight, weight gain and specific growth rates of fish exposed to 24L were significantly higher than those of fish exposed to 12L:12D, 6L:18D and 24D (P < 0.05). Red blood cell and hemoglobin of fish exposed to 24L were significantly higher than those of fish exposed to 24D. No significant difference observed in hematocrit, white blood cell and plasma glucose among the different treatments groups. Therefore, these results demonstrated that the growth performance of juvenile Caspian roach can be significantly stimulated by using 24L and 18L:6D photoperiods without any measurable significant stress response such as plasma glucose concentration. KCI Citation Count: 0