A new feeding attractant, dimethyl-.BETA.-propiothetin, for freshwater fish.

Abstract

We attempted here to detect new sulfur-containing feeding attractants using a method in which freshwater fish record their own strike response on a Kimographyone instrument. Among viarious sulfur-containing organic compounds, dimethyl-β-propiothetin (DMPT), and to a lesser extent, dimethylthetin, dipropyl (di)sulfide, dimethylsulfoxide and dimethylsulfone, strongly promoted the striking behavior in goldfish Carassius auratus, carp Cyprinus carpio and crucian carp Craccius auratus cuvieri when included in a synthetic diet (cellulose alone), a semi-natural diet and a natural diet. DMPT had a much greater stimulatory effect than glutamine at various concentrations. Moreover, DMPT induced much stronger neural activity in the olfactory tract of carp than L-glutamine. Thus, our results indicate that DMPT is an effective new attractant for striking of freshwater fish.