Wild training of captive Spinibarbus denticulatus juveniles

We investigated the life skills of Oreochromis mossambicus juveniles after chasing training. By using a mandarin fish model-chasing treatment, the fish were provided with 5 min of chasing training twice a day for 7 and 15 d, respectively, then the indices (escape time for avoiding simulated predators, critical swimming speed, feeding rate, specific body mass growth rate) were compared with those in the control group. The results show that after 7 and 15 d of chasing training, the escape time and feeding rate were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the critical swimming speed between the control group and the chasing training group after 7 d (P>0.05), but the critical swimming speed of the chasing training group after 15 d was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in specific body mass growth rate  (P>0.05). The results show that 15 d of training can improve the abilities related to survival in the wildness such as anti-predatory ability and swimming ability for juvenile O. mossambicus, but does not reduce the growth of body mass. The effect of 15 d of chasing training is better than that of 7 d.