Effect of living food on the peptidase activity on the digestive tract and the composition of blood in the sterlet Acipenser ruthenus (L.)

The effect of additives to the mixed fodder of chironomid larvae Chironomus sp. on the activity of peptidases of the mucosa and the contents of the digestive tract, as well as the composition of the blood of the annual sterlet Acipenser ruthenus (L.), grown in aquarium conditions was atudied. An increase in the provision (prosperity) of fish with peptidases when included in the diet of 1% and especially 2% of chironomid larvae (up to 36.6 μmol / min) in comparison with the control (29.1 μmol / min) was revealed. The number of leukocytes increases from 35.2 in control to 42.8 thousand / μl when 2% of chironomid larvae are add into the feed. The number of lymphocytes increases from 79.0% in the control to 89.0% when 2% of chironomid larvae included in the diet. The data obtained indicate an improvement in the processes of digestion and the physiological state of sterlet, which indicates the advisability of the including of live feeds, in particular of chironomid larvae, as an additive to mixed fodders.