Social enrichment affects fish growth and aggression depending on fish species: Applications for aquaculture

Growth performance and aggressive behavior are important measures in fish aquaculture. So, from the perspectives of food production welfare, it is always valuable to increase growth rate reduce aggression efficiently. Physical enrichment has been verified be a promising method improve welfare. But there very scarce knowledge about social enrichment, which an category environmental enrichment. In wild, several species often inhabit same habitat, inevitably experiencing interactions with each other. From perspective nature-based such essential for ontogenesis, deprivation this environment may damage Here, we focused on two typical territorial species, black rockfish ( Sebastes schlegelii ) fat greenling Hexagrammos otakii ), found area contrast, traditional farms simultaneously rear them monoculture mode. And explored effects (through introducing different numbers fishes into environment) their aggression. The results showed that as stimulus significantly increased (especially medium high amounts), but did not present rockfish. Proper also decreased intraspecies both among greenling. Moreover, expressed more toward (i.e., interspecies rockfish) than reverse. Finally, average distribution proportion central areas standard metabolic were higher those These suggest proper effective decrease greenling, improvement accompanied by compromised This study will promote application strategy improving welfare specific provide fundamental information reducing Further research needed optimize combinations practical applications