Читать книгу Clinical Guide to Fish Medicine - Группа авторов - Страница 160

Body condition scores (BCSs) are a useful way to assess the health and nutritional status of fish at a point in time. They are often designed with a 5‐point scale where 3 represents optimal condition and 1 and 5 represent under‐ and over‐conditioned animals, respectively.

Studies have evaluated body condition indices in wild and cultured fish by examining the relationship between body mass and body length (Kohler et al. 1995; Hussey et al. 2009). Visual BCS systems are more desirable in managed collections as they do not require fish handling for morphometrics. These have been published for zebrafish (Danio rerio) and spotted eagle rays (Aetobatus narinari) (Wilson et al. 2013; Kamerman et al. 2017). BCS systems for fusiform teleosts similar to koi (Cyprinus carpio koi), demersal rays similar to southern stingrays (Hypanus americanus), and pelagic sharks similar to requiem sharks (Carcharhinus spp.) are shown in Figures A4.1–A4.3. These are meant as a guide only, as different species will build fat and muscle in different anatomical locations.

Since body condition scores are subjective, they are best assessed by a team of people (e.g. husbandry staff, technicians, veterinarians, and nutritionists). They are particularly useful when compared across a group or across time, especially during periods of physiologic change (e.g. around breeding and growth).