In the present study, the effects of different sources of selenium (Se; sodium selenite or selenomethionine) supplementation on the growth and serum concentrations of oxidative stress markers [malondialdehyde (MDA), 8‐isoprostane, glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) activity] and muscle Se, MDA and heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) levels in rainbow trouts were evaluated. The fish (n = 360; 0 +  years old) with initial average weight of 20 ± 0.8 g were randomly assigned to 12 treatment groups consisting of 3 replicates of 10 fish each in a 2 × 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments (stocking densities, Se sources, Se levels). The fish were kept at low (25 kg m−3) or high (100 kg m−3) stocking densities and fed a basal (control) diet or the basal diet supplemented with either 0.15 or 0.30 mg of Se kg−1 of diet from two different forms: sodium selenite or selenomethionine. High stocking density decreased weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) when basal diet was fed (P = 0.001). A linear increase in feed intake and weight gain and improvement in FCR were found in sodium selenite (P = 0.01)‐ or selenomethionine (P = 0.001)‐supplemented fish reared under crowding conditions. Serum and muscle Se levels and serum GSH‐Px activity increased (P = 0.001) linearly, whereas serum and muscle MDA concentrations and serum 8‐isoprostane decreased linearly as dietary sodium selenite (P = 0.01) or selenomethionine (P = 0.001) supplementation increased. Selenomethionine and sodium selenite supplementation decreased Hsp70 in the muscle of fish reared under crowding conditions (P < 0.05). Supplementation with Se improved growth and antioxidant status of fish and the effects of selenomethionine were relatively greater than sodium selenite in the crowded groups. Results suggest that crowding conditions cause significant detrimental effects in rainbow trout indicated by increased oxidative stress, reduced feed intake and body weight gain. İt also indicates that dietary Se supplementation offers a feasible way of reducing the losses in performance of rainbow trout reared under crowding conditions. Selenomethionine seems to be more effective than sodium selenite and the higer dose in the present study also seems to be more effective than the lower dose.

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The effect of dietary n-3 series fatty acids on the number of pleopadal egg and stage 1 juvenile in freshwater crayfish, Astacus leptodactylus was investigated. Crayfish were fed with n-3 series fatty acids supplemented diets and a control diet for 251 days. Control diet did not comprise additional n-3 series fatty acids. However, D2, D3 and D4 groups were supplemented with n-3 series fatty acids at 1%, 2% and 3% level respectively. Results showed the beneficial effects of dietary n-3 series fatty acids on the production of pleopodal egg and stage 1 juvenile number. At the end of the experiment, pleopodal egg (from 177 to 234) and stage 1 juvenile number (from 167 to 225) increased significantly with increased dietary n-3 series fatty acid level. In addition, an increase in dietary n-3 series fatty acids led to an increase in number of pleopodal egg and stage 1 juvenile produced per gram of female crayfish weight. It can be concluded that the reproductive efficiency of A. leptodactylus (i.e., pleopodal egg and stage 1 juvenile number) can be improved in controlled hatchery conditions by adding n-3 series fatty acid into the diet of this species.

The effect of chromium (chromium picolinate, CrPic) supplementation at various levels (0, 400, 800 or 1600 lg Cr/kg diet) on serum concentrations of glucose and cholesterol and on serum and liver concentrations of Cr, Zn, Cu and Fe of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) was evaluated. One-year-old rainbow trout (n=120) were randomly assigned to four treatment groups, each with two replicates of 15 fish. The fish were fed either a control diet or the control diet supplemented with either 400, 800 or 1600 lg Cr/kg diet. Serum glucose and cholesterol concentrations decreased (p=0.001) with higher dietary chromium supplementation. Increasing dietary chromium supplementation linearly increased serum chromium and zinc concentrations (p=0.001). Serum copper and iron concentrations did not change (p>0.10) as dietary chromium supplementation increased. Liver chromium and zinc concentrations linearly increased (p=0.001). Also, liver Cu and Fe concentrations did not change (p>0.10) as dietary chromium supplementation increased. The results of present study conclude that supplemental chromium to the diet of rainbow trout influences serum and liver Cr and Zn concentrations, thus most probably functions of the organs as well as the welfare of raibow trout.