The Effect of Exercise Training on the Swimming Performance and Metabolic Rate in Juvenile Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)

To investigate the effect of exercise training on the swimming performance and metabolic rate during swimming in juvenile common carp (Cyprinus carpio), 90 juvenile fish (8.12±1.30) g was forced to swim under 60% critical swimming speed (Ucrit) for 0 h (control), 6 h and 12 h daily for 15 d. Then three groups of fish were underwent both an Ucrit and faststart measurement. The oxygen consumption rate (MO2) at different swimming speed was also measured. Neither Ucrit nor faststart performance as indicated by maximum velocity (Vmax), maximum acceleration velocity (Amax) and travel distance during first 12 ms (S120ms) significantly changed after 15 d training in juvenile common carp. However, the MO2 at 20 and 36 cm s-1 of fish in 6 h training group were significantly lower than those in control group while the MO2 at all swimming speed of fish in 12 h training group were significantly higher than those of control group (p<0.05). It suggested that the cost of transport decrease after moderate exercise training (6 h), however, high intensity training (12 h) may impair the cost of transport by increased basal metabolic rate.