Effect of meal size on postprandial metabolic response and excess post-exercise oxygen consumption in juvenile rock carp (Procypris rabaudi)

To investigate the effect of meal size on postprandial metabolic response and excess post-exercise oxygen consumption(EPOC) in juvenile rock carp(Procypris rabaudi)[(13.05±0.17) g,n=44],experimental fish were lightly anaesthetized and force-fed with compound feed(meal sizes: 0%,0.5%,1% and 2% body weight) at(25 ±0.5)℃.After diet offered,oxygen consumption rates at different intervals were measured.Variables of postprandial metabolic and EPOC responses were calculated.The results of present study showed that resting metabolic rates(RMR) were not significantly different among all groups.The postprandial metabolic rate first increased and then slowly decreased to pre-fed level.The time to peak metabolic rate and the energy expended on Specific dynamic action(SDA) in 0.5% and 1% meal size groups were lower than that of 2% meal size group(P0.05).The peak metabolic rates(PMR) and the SDA coefficients were not significantly different among 0.5%,1% and 2% meal size groups.Pre-exercise metabolic rate in feeding group was significantly higher than that of fasting group(P0.05).Peak post-exercise metabolic rate,metabolic rate increment and excess post-exercise oxygen consumption magnitude were not significantly different between feeding group and fasting group.The maximum metabolic rate(MMR) and MMR/RMR were significantly higher than PMR and PMR/RMR(P0.05).The fish fulfilled the increased energy demand during digestive process by means of prolonged SDA duration with the increase of meal size.EPOC was not influenced by feeding in the fish.