Identifying Fish Digestion and Feeding Identifying Fish Digestion

Identifying Fish Digestion and Feeding

Identifying Fish Digestion and Feeding • Make a list of what you have eaten in the last 24 hours. • Where did you eat those foods at? • How was the food served? • How is the body able to digest and utilize the food you consumed?

Terms • Anus • Auger feeding system • Automated feeding systems • Blowers • Branchiospines • Carnivores • • Demand feeders Esophagus Hand feeding Intestines Mouth Prepared feed Stomach

Objectives • Describe the fish digestive system. • Describe the common methods of feeding fish. • Understand how to interpret a feed label.

What are the parts of the fish digestive system? • The digestive system is similar to other animals. • Size and shape of each component of the system will vary with the type of fish and its diet. • Carnivores – Fish that eats meat. – Have a large stomach and short intestines.

What are the parts of the fish digestive system? • Parts include: – Mouth • Teeth • Tongue • Branchiospines – Esophagus – Stomach – Intestines – Anus

What are the parts of the fish digestive system? • Mouth – Entry point of system. • Carnivores mouth – Have many teeth that point inwards. – Not used for chewing. – Used to capture and hold prey. • Other fish – Few or no teeth. www. vrmlsite. com/dec 96/spot 5. html

What are the parts of the fish digestive system? • Tongue – Helps move food around in the mouth. • Branchiospines – Act as filters to capture small food from water as the fish swims. – Part of the gill structure that helps fish swim. • Esophagus – Short tube that connects mouth to stomach.

What are the parts of the fish digestive system? • Stomach – Organ where digestion begins. – Some stomachs will expand greatly. • Allows them to eat large quantities of food. – Other stomachs are small that will accommodate small amounts of food. – Some fish have almost no stomach. • Esophagus connects directly to intestines.

What are the parts of the fish digestive system? • Intestines – Site of food digestion and nutrient absorption. • Anus – Exterior opening of system. – Unused food and wasted material is exited. www. mariner. org/library. html

COMMON METHODS OF FEEDING FISH

What are some common methods of feeding fish? • Feeding fish is very important. – Provide the appropriate nutrition. – Opportunity to observe fish for any abnormal signs. • Feeding systems differ based on size of the operation. – Small operations – Large operations

What are some common methods of feeding fish? • Small Operations – Hand feeding • Feed is distributed by hand, shovels, or other non-automated means. • Most common method. • Used for feeds not suited for automated systems. • Meat scraps are hand fed.

What are some common methods of feeding fish? • Large Operations – Automated feeding systems • Utilize machinery to distribute the feed. • From relatively simple to very complicated, computer-controlled. • Blowers • Demand feeders • Auger feeding systems

What are some common methods of feeding fish? • Blowers – Drive along the side of the pond and blow feed out into the pond. – Attached to trucks or tractors. – Common in levee pond and watershed pond operations. www. sweeneyfeeders. com/ aquaculture. htm

What are some common methods of feeding fish? www. missourifishfarms. com/. . . / automatic_feeders. htm • Demand feeders – Allow fish to bump a rod and release feed when they are hungry. – Used in raceways. – Fish must be trained how to use them.

What are some common methods of feeding fish? • Auger feeding – Similar to systems used by swine and poultry farmers. – Feed stored in large tanks – Moved by augers that drop feed in pond – Common in tanks and raceways www. ars-grin. gov/ars/Pac. West/ Aberdeen/overturf. htm

FEED LABELS

What does a feed label tells us? • Fish farming utilizes prepared feeds. – A feed that is produced by a feed mill and then sold in bags or bulk. – Required to have a label.

What does a feed label tells us? • • • www. ag. ohio-state. edu/~4 hansc/ 2000 minumumteachingrequirenmen. . . Net weight Product name Brand name Guaranteed analysis Drug additives

What must the guaranteed analysis section contain? • Minimum % of crude protein • Maximum & minimum % of protein from nonprotein nitrogen • Minimum % of crude fat • Maximum % of crude fiber • Minimum and maximum % of salt and calcium • Minimum % of phosphorus • Other minerals • Vitamin content

What must be included on label if feed has drugs in it? • The word “medicated” • Purpose of medication must be stated. • Directions and precautions for medication. • Listing of all active drug ingredients. www. gardenponds. com/fish. htm

Review / Summary • What are the parts of the fish digestive system? • What are some common methods of feeding fish? • What does a fish label tell us?