In this study, the effects of semen diluent solutions on improvement of reproduction performance, by using the criteria such as: the rates of fertilization, percentage of eyed egg and hatching rates were studied. For this purpose eight female broods with average weight and length 1545.62±295.43 g and 54.37±3.85 cm, respectively and sixteen male broods were selected with average weight and length 623.08±180.69 g diluent solutions and 38.91±5.40 cm, respectively. After separation of eggs from coelomic fluids, they were fertilized with sperm using four different diluent solutions: 1- 5.54 g NaCl, 2.422 g Triss, 3.57 g Glycin, regulated in pH=8.4 and solution in 1L distilled water.2- 7.305 g NaCl, 0.735 g CaCl2.2H2O, regulated in pH=8.4 and solution in 1L distilled water.3- coelumic fluid that was separated from egg by using net and 4- distilled water as control treatment. The results showed that motility duration of sperm in 1th, 2nd, 3ed and 4th treatments was 65.25±7.36, 30.8±12.83, 73.33±2.117, 40.00±1.61 sec, the duration of forward movement was 6.25±4.71, 15.00±12.63, 52.33±1.90, 34.66±2.51 sec. and percentage eyed eggs was 16.82±6.42, 53.00±4.66, 82.50±3.84, 73.33±2.08, respectively. Percentage hatching was 55.05±5.42, 71.43±0.81, 49.60±6.25, 37.72±4.32, respectively. The results of spermatology parameters, eyed egg percentage and hatching rates showed a significant differences between the 2nd treatment with the rest (p£0.05). Thus, it can be suggested the 2nd treatment is an effective diluents solution for improving breeding performance of S. zarudnyi.

Factors such as overfishing, reduction in water flow, overuse of water resources for agricultural purposes, contamination of water resources and disease outbreaks, threaten??? aquatic life. Study of blood indicators can play an important role in the recognition of environmental changes and aquatic diseases. For this purposeblood samples from caudal vein were collected from 30 juvenile Snow trout weighing 6.34 grams from wells in Sistan area. After centrifugation and separation of serum, the measurement of the biochemical parameters was made by using auto analyzer. The statistical analysis of the data was done using the statistical software Sigma State 3.5. The mean ± SD were calculated for different materials as follows: 129.52±37.84 for Glucose, 274.48 ± 118.35 for triglyceride, 271.87±53.42 for cholesterol, 59.95±14.05 for HDL, 176.73 ± 41.92 for LDL, 176.73 ± 41.92 for calcium, 8.54 ± 1.84 for phosphorus, 20.77 ± 3.35 for BUN, 4.13 ± 1.11 for.

Snow-trout and Chinese carps (silver, big head, grass, and common carps) were cultivated at 3000/ha stocking density from July 2005 to November 2006 at Zahak hatchery in Sistan and Baluchestan Province. Species composition for cultivation was as follows: 65% silver carp, 20% common carp, 5% big head, 10% grass carp, and Snow-trout stocking density was 110 specimens per pond. Cultivation was carried out at the 3 treated ponds and 3 control ponds with 3500 m2. Physical and chemical parameters were determined during cultivation period. Survival rates of species were as follows: 24.55% Snow-trout, and 87.88% all four carp species. The initial average weight of Snow-trout fingerlings was 40 g which during cultivation period obtained average weight of 302.1±14 g. Results show that the difference between final mean weights of Chinese carps in poly culture in comparison with monoculture of them was significant (p<0.05). The average total yields at the poly culture ponds were 1495.8 kg/ha and in control mono culture ponds of Chinese carps was 1681.14 kg/ha. Results showed that the average carp production is more than Snow-trout but grass carp yield in the project's pond was more than control ponds. The total average yield in the poly culture of snow-trout and Chinese carps (Project ponds) was 1312 kg/ha and in the poly culture of just Chinese carp (control ponds) it was 1681 kg/ha. Due to the price of snow-trout in the local market comparing with the price of carp it is recommendable to suggest cultivating of this fish to the fish farmers.

This study aimed at determining blood biochemical parameters with potential diagnostic value to assess the nutritional status for healthy Snow trout, Schizothorax zarudnyi. For this purpose, three treatment groups of Snow trout (average weight, 65. 9± 5. 3 g) were kept unfed for 24 h, 7 and 14 days. During the experiment, a natural photoperiod was adopted, water temperature was maintained at 23. 2± 1. 1 ° C, pH at 7. 8± 0. 2, dissolved oxygen at 7± 0. 4 mg L-1 and ammonia concentration was kept around zero mg L-1. Fish in all treatment groups were fed twice a day, to apparent satiety. At the end of the trial, the levels of glucose; triglyceride; cholesterol; total protein; inorganic phosphorus; calcium; magnesium; triiodothyronine (T3); thyroxin (T4); alkaline phosphatase (ALP); aspartate aminotransferase (AST); Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined using standard clinical methods. The results showed that glucose (71. 8± 6. 64-138. 6± 13. 02 mg dl-1), AST (63. 53± 12. 17-130. 41± 23. 04Ul-1) and T4 (6. 46± 0. 88-11. 69± 1. 16 ng ml-1) levels were significantly affected by the starvation period (p<0. 05). T3 levels remained relatively stable during the first week of starvation (2. 3± 0. 25-2. 39± 0. 31 ng ml-1) and then significantly decreased (1. 77± 0. 16 ng ml-1) in the second week of starvation (p<0. 05). Triglycerides levels increased during the first week of starvation (147. 40± 16. 62 to 199. 31± 31. 42 mg dl-1) and decreased significantly (p<0. 05) in the second week (163. 70± 24. 63 mg dl-1). These results suggested that in healthy Snow trout juveniles, glucose, AST and T4 levels are responsive to starvation.

Karyological characteristics of snow trout, Schizothorax zarudnyi, in Zahak (Sistan- Balochestan province) were determined using tissue-squashing method and gimsa staining.The examination of 85 metaphase obtained from 15 fingerling specimens (weighing 10gr each) indicated that the chromosome number of this species was 2n=96, and the chromosome arm number were NF=142. The prepared karyotype of this species was found to consist of to 9 pairs of metacentric (m), 14 pairs of submetacentric (sm), and 25 pairs of acrotelocentric (at) chromosome. The karyotype formula can be summed as 2n = 9m + 14sm + 25at. Karyological parameters showed that centromeric index, arm ratio, relative length and 1ength variation range of chromosomes of this fish were between 25.00 - 49.24, 1.03 - 3.55, 0.88 - 3.75 and 14.57 - 67.70, respectively, and total length is 1639.16 µ. The largest chromosome in this species was a pair of the submetacentric chromosome.In this study, the best quality of chromosomal spread was obtained from 50 µg/gr Colchicines, height of dropping 120 cm and %1 tri-citrate sodium as hypotonic solution in 40C.

Samples of Schizothorax pelzami were collected by electroshocker from Laiinsoo River (n=150) in northeastern Iran in January 1995. The growth and diets rates of S.pelzami were examined. For 30 specimens in Laiinsoo River, the length-weight relationships were estimated as W= -12.108×L3.134 (r=0.999) for females and W= -10.594×L2.796 (r=0.849) for males. Stomach contents were examined to determine the kind, number, and volume of organisms present. Classification of the stomach contents of individual fish in Laiinsoo River revealed different groups of benthic invertebrates. Chironomidae, were the most abundant benthic invertebrates among the categories of organisms collected. The Ivelev index showed that odonata, at 1; Chironomidae (Larva), at 0.6, and Simulidae (larva), at 0.5, were the most important food items for S. pelzami. The ratio of male to female for specimens caught from Laiinsoo River was 2.5:1.

BACKGROUND: Dietary nucleotide has been shown to improve growth indices, nutritional function and higher vertebrates in fish.OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effect of different levels of dietary nucleotide on growth parameters, whole-body composition and fluctuations of cortisol and glucose due to acute stress in Snow trout (Schizothorax zarudnyi).METHODS: One-hundred-twenty Snow trout fingerlings with average weight 7.58±0.05 g, were fed with four levels of dietary nucleotides including 0 (control), 0.15, 0.25, and 0.5 percent for 8 weeks. Ten fingerlings were stocked into each 300l tank with triplicate in four treatments and fed three times daily at 3-5% body weight rate. At the end of feeding trial, weight gain, Weight gain rate, feed efficiency, Food efficiency ratio and survival were computed. Also, the numbers of fish that were exposed to acute stress (temperature and pH).RESULTS: The results showed that none of the nucleotide-supplemented diets had any significant effect on growth indices (p>0.05). None of the dietary treatments resulted in any significant changes to dry matter, ash and protein. The only significant difference was observed in the fat (p>0.05). The fish fed 0.25% nucleotide showed higher whole lipid compared to other dietary treatments. Stress test results showed no significant difference at the beginning of the experiment, whereas after, acute stress cortisol levels were significantly higher in trials. The lowest response was observed in trial with 0.50% nucleotide and the highest was in control groups. Glucose levels were not significantly different, neither before nor after acute stress.CONCLUSIONS: The nucleotide composition used in the present study failed to provide significant effects on growth of Snow trout juveniles but could improve response to acute stress.

Obtaining an appropriate anesthetic drug for rapid anesthesia with long term and safe recovery has always been the concern of fisheries science researchers. In this study, survey the effect of anesthetic essential oil of lavender (Lavendula officinalis) on Schizothorax zarudnyi was investigated. 260 Snow trout (Schizothorax zarudnyi) juveniles with an average total weight and length 58. 69± 1. 50 g and 20. 77± 1. 16 cm, respectively were anesthetized in four group treatment including, 0, 200, 300 and 400 ppm essential oil of lavender. The expriment carried out base on bath method in order to determine position sedative and anesthetic dose of Lavender essential oil. Kidney, Liver and Gills tissue and blood serum for evaluation of AST (asparate aminotransferase), ALT (alanine amino trasferase) and ALP (alkaline phosphatase) enzymes activity histopathological effects was done in two times, 10 minutes after anesthesia and 24 hours after anesthesia. The results showed that the essential oil of lavender in concentration of 300 ppm induces general anesthesia. Comparison of AST, ALT and ALP enzyme activity (P<0. 05) between all group treatment did not show significant difference and histopathological result suggested that the concentration of 200 ppm lavender for sedative position and 300 ppm lavender was proper for anesthesia in Snow trout without side effect and it can recommended that use this concentrations of lavender essential oil in aquaculture activities without side effect or damages. Advisable Lavander essence oil use as a standard medicine to anesthetize and superseded prevalent chemicals to create anesthesia and sedation in fish.

This study was performed to investigate the effects of feeding rates on growth performance, feed conversion and body composition of juvenile snow trout (Schizothorax zarudnyi). For this purpose, fish with an initial body weight of 2. 17± 0. 1 g were fed a commercial diet (40% protein, 3. 8 Kcal g-1 diet) at five ration sizes of 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10% of their body weight per day, for 60 days. The feeding trial was conducted in triplicate. Maximum weight gain, best feed conversion ratio (FCR), best specific growth rate (SGR %), highest energy retention (ERE %) and protein efficiency ratio (PER %) were evident for rations of 4– 6% body weight. Second-degree polynomial regression analysis for PER, FCR and ERE indicated the break-points occurred at 4. 9, 5. 1 and 5. 2% BW day− 1, respectively. Maximum body protein content was obtained for 4% and 6% rations. Body moisture, fat and ash content remained unchanged. Based on the above results, it may be concluded that the 4. 9-5. 2% body weight per day ration is optimal for the growth, conversion efficiencies and body composition of juvenile S. zarudnyi and it entails favorable economic benefits.

Pollution is a world problem with serious consequences. Heavy metals are an important group of these contaminants and enter aquatic ecosystems from anthropogenic and natural sources and animal health and systems are affected. In this study, the effect of lead exposure (3 mg/l concentration, 30 days) on activity of tissue enzymes, including acetyl cholinesterase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) In liver, gills, brain and muscle were studied in Snow trout (Schizothorax zarudnyi). The results showed that lead caused a significant inhibition of acetyl cholinesterase in the gills and brain as compared to control group (p0.05). The activity of ALT was increased significantly in the liver and brain homogenates following lead acetate exposure (p0.05). A significant increase in AST activity was observed in the liver and brain (p0.05).Moreover, LDH and ALP activity were increased significantly following lead acetate exposure only in the liver (p0.05). According to this, lead exposure in Snow trout leads to interactions between these metal and biological systems, which could affect metabolic enzyme activities in some tissues.The enzyme activity by lead did not follow the same pattern of increase or decrease and different results were based on enzymes and tissue. Therefore, monitoring of enzymatic profiles in tissues of Snow trout could be useful for identification of overall fish health and organ dysfunction following lead exposure.