The effect of exhaustive chasing training and detraining on swimming performance in juvenile darkbarbel catfish (Peltebagrus vachelli).

To investigate the effects of exhaustive chasing training and detraining on the swimming performance of juvenile darkbarbel catfish (Peltebagrus vachelli Richardson), we performed exhaustive chasing training daily for 14 days and subsequently detrained fish for 7 days. Chasing training resulted in significant increases in critical swimming speed (U (crit)), post-chasing peak oxygen consumption rate (VO(2 peak)), and heart and gill indexes compared with non-trained controls. Both resting oxygen consumption (VO(2 rest)) and excess post-chasing VO(2) (EPOC) were unaffected by exhaustive chasing training. Fish that underwent chasing training had lower levels of whole-body lipid content and reduced food intake and growth compared with non-trained control fish; however, condition factor was not affected by chasing training. Seven days of detraining reversed the effects of exhaustive chasing training. Overall, these data suggested that short-term exhaustive chasing training improves aerobic swimming capacity in darkbarbel catfish, but the training effects are reversible over a short period of time.