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	Commercial Pellet Feeding Studies Since feed and feeding represents at least 50% of production costs in the ongrowing stage, the Department has developed programmes aiming at the maximisation of biological performance in fish (survival, growth, food conversion ratios, health), when the fish are given commercial pellets. Studies are carried out concerning adaptation to conditions of restricted choice, feeding tables in relation to temperature and size of fish, modification of feeding patterns in relation to the quality of water, or food or health state (biological indicators) and adaptation of feeding behaviour to internal biorhythms. Demand feeders are also used as a tool for basic experiments and automatisation. Research tasks cover feeding behaviour, learning behaviour and memory in fish in relation to reward (food) and punishment (withholding of food), innate and learned mechanisms in the activation of the demand feeder, food preferences and performances in conditions of multiple choice. Experiments concerning stressors identification, stress evaluation and nutritional requirements, with respect to the marketable quality of fish have also been carried out. Control of Fish Development Research directed towards improving the development of fish, by eliminating deformities and continually seeking for conformity with wild species (two requisites in successful marketing of the products) can be assessed against morphological and osteological criteria. The Department carries out research in four different areas: the definition of quality criteria for product labelling; the early identification of symptoms, so that deformities can be detected as soon as possible and aetiological causes determined; discovery of easy and accurate methods of sorting abnormal animals; experiments designed to improve knowledge on the causes of abnormalities. Part of this work is aimed towards finding valid criteria to enable early evaluation of the growth potential of fish ( a necessity in competitive fishfarming economic activity). Fish Diseases The Greek fishfarming industry is becoming increasingly concerned about different fish diseases and so the Department has turned its attention towards some diseases with technical, behavioural and nutritional causes. Attempts to find a remedy for these diseases are based first of all on aetiology, then early diagnosis of symptoms and identification of the pathways of the disease. Research into methods of prevention and treatment is also carried out. Various blood components can be determined : Haematology: Blood Chemistry haematocrit, total proteins, glucose, cholesterol, total fats, calcium, magnesium, iron etc. Endocrinology: testosterone, 17-estradiol, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, cortisol, thyroid hormones (T3, T4). Histology: in conjunction with the Fish Diseases laboratory it is possible to determine the maturity stage of the fish by histological fixation and optical microscopy examination.
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