Abstract

To improve the feed ingestion of cultured fish and shellfish, 26 purine and pyrimidine compounds were examined as dietary supplements at a concentration of 1.0 mmol kg^–1 (or L^–1) of diet. For the black abalone Haliotis discus, feeding was significantly (P < 0.05) increased by thymidine, adenosine-5´-monophosphate, adenosine- 5´-diphosphate (ADP), adenosine-5´-triphosphate, guanosine-5´-monophosphate (GMP), inosine-5- monophosphate (IMP) and 2´-deoxycytidine-5´-monophosphate. For the oriental weatherfish Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, feeding was significantly (P < 0.05) increased by thymidine, ADP, IMP and thymidine-5´-monophosphate (TMP). At one-tenth of the initial concentration, ADP, GMP and IMP were effective for the abalone and thymidine and TMP were effective for the weatherfish. None of the compounds inhibited feeding of either species.