The use of AquaMats® to enhance growth and improve fin condition among raceway cultured rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)

AquaMats® are a type of artificial seaweed designed to provide structure in ponds used for fish culture and as a substrate for the growth of aquatic plants and invertebrates which in turn are a source of nutrition to cultured species. In two separate tests AquaMats® were placed into raceways used to rear rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) to evaluate their effect on fish growth and fin condition. In the first test, the AquaMats® were placed perpendicular to the raceway length similar to a baffle design. One treatment consisted of AquaMats® that were cleaned on a regular basis, and the other treatment consisted of AquaMats® that were not cleaned throughout the test. By the end of the test no differences were found between treatments with respect to final fish weight, specific growth rate, or feed conversion ratio. The use of AquaMats® did not improve fin condition, in fact several fins measured were significantly better among control fish. In the second test AquaMats® were placed on the raceway bottom parallel to their length and to the water flow. AquaMats® were also hung from the side of the raceway to provide cover. At the conclusion of this test no differences were found between treatments with respect to final fish weight, specific growth rate, or feed conversion ratio. The placement of AquaMats® did have a transitory impact on fin condition. Mid-way through the test, treatment fish generally exhibited longer fins compared with the controls. However, by the end of the test, these differences were no longer detectable. The results from both tests indicate that fish were not provided with additional nutrition to the extent it improved growth. However, the use of AquaMats® did make a significant, albeit transitory, impact on fin condition.