A 75‐day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the nutritional implication of feeding diets containing graded levels of sundried cassava leaf meal (SCLM) to Labeo rohita fingerlings. Four isonitrogenous (300 g/kg crude protein) and isoenergetic (18 MJ/kg) diets were prepared by replacing de‐oiled rice bran (DORB) with 0 (diet 1), 130 (diet 2), 260 (diet 3) and 390 g/kg (diet 4) of SCLM. The diets were fed to the triplicate groups of L. rohita fingerlings (average weight, 2.03 ± 0.03 g) in a completely randomized experimental design. At the end of the trial, diet 3 had similar (p > 0.05) percentage weight gain (106.38 ± 4.41%), specific growth rate (1.29 ± 0.04%/day) and feed conversion ratio (2.38 ± 0.08) relative to the control group. Intestinal digestive enzyme activities, hepatic and muscle transaminases and proximate body composition of L. rohita fingerlings were not significantly (p > 0.05) influenced by the dietary treatment. Superoxide dismutase activity of the group reared on diets 3 and 4 was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of diet 1. Based on the second‐order polynomial regression analysis on the expression of IGF‐I and IGF‐BPI, it was concluded that as much as 166.5 g/kg DORB can be replaced by SCLM for optimal growth performance, in the diets of L. rohita fingerlings.

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Selection of gastropod shells as shelter by hermit crabs in controlled experiments would provide useful information on the utility of these shells in nature. In this study, shell size and species preferences of Diogenes alias from the northeastern Arabian Sea were quantified by free choice experiments. Males of D. alias, prefer Indothais lacera and Tibia curta, when choice was given; no differences were found for other demographic groups. All hermit crabs occupied larger shells than the shells they occupied in nature. The best correlation was observed between internal volume, weight, and aperture width of the shell with the size of the hermit crab. This pattern has also been reported for other species (i.e., Clibanarius albidigitus, Calcinus tibicen, and C. obscurus). Furthermore, the present study highlights the importance of optimal resources in a scarce environment.

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Therapeutically popular controlled release-enabling technology has forayed into the nutrition sector. Polymer coated forms of L-methionine used in soy protein diets, and its intermediate metabolite, S-adenosyl-L-methionine, used in myriad of medical conditions have proved more efficacious over (highly catabolized) free forms. In this premier study, L-methionine-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (M-NPs) were synthesized using ionic gelation method and their efficacy was evaluated. Biophysical characterization of the NPs was done using a Nanopartica SZ 100 analyser, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The M-NPs were spherical and smooth and 218.9 ± 7.4 nm in size and in vitro testing confirmed the controlled release of methionine. A 60-days feeding trial in L. rohita fish fingerlings was conducted. A basal diet suboptimal (0.85%) in methionine was provided with one of the supplements as under: none (control), 0.8% chitosan NPs (0.8% NPs), 1.2% L-methionine (1.2% M) (crystalline free form), 0.6% M-NPs and 1.2% M-NPs. While the addition of 0.6% M-NPs to the basal diet complemented towards meeting the established dietary requirement and resulted in significantly highest (P < 0.05) growth and protein efficiency and sero-immunological test scores (serum total protein, serum globulin, serum albumin: globulin ratio, phagocytic respiratory burst/NBT reduction and lysozyme activity), 1.2% supplementation in either form (free or nano), for being 0.85% excess, was counterproductive. Liver transaminases and dehydrogenases corroborated enhanced growth. It was inferred that part of the methionine requirement in nano form (M-NPs) can confer intended performance and health benefits in animals relying on plant proteins-based diets limiting in this essential amino acid. The study also paves the way for exploring chitosan NPs-based sustained delivery of amino acids in human medical conditions.

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