Effects of Sunlamp-Based Lighting Mode on Growth Performance, Survival Rate, Stress Response, and Oxidative Stress of Juvenile Chinese Soft-Shelled Turtles (Pelodiscus sinensis)in a Greenhouse

Abstract

HighlightsSunlamps with UV and visible light were used in large-scale farming of Chinese soft-shelled turtles in a greenhouse.The effects of lighting mode on the growth performance, survival rate, stress response, and oxidative stress of juvenile Chinese soft-shelled turtles were studied.Lighting mode had significant impacts on survival rate, stress, and oxidative stress of Chinese soft-shelled turtles.Lighting the basking area only was the optimal lighting mode and caused less stress for Chinese soft-shelled turtles.Abstract. To investigate the effects of sunlamp-based lighting mode on the growth performance, survival rate, stress response, and oxidative stress of juvenile soft-shelled turtles in a greenhouse, four lighting modes with three replicates were used in this study: lighting the basking area and water simultaneously (LBW), lighting the water only (LW), lighting the basking area only (LB), and no light (NL). Results showed that the final weight, weight gain rate, and specific growth rate had no significant differences among treatments. The survival rate was significantly lower in LBW than in NL, while no significant differences were observed among NL, LB, and LW. On the physiological level, serum cortisol level was significantly lower in LB compared to the other two treatments with light, and glucose level was significantly lower in LB than in LW and NL. With regard to oxidative stress, indexes indicated that the turtles suffered less oxidative stress in LB. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) was significantly lower in LB compared to the other three treatments. Total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) was significantly lower in LB, as well as in LW and NL, than in LBW, and no significant differences were found among LB, LW, and NL. Additionally, complement 3 (C3) was significantly higher in LB than in NL, which indicated that the turtles had higher immune-related protein in LB. On the whole, the results demonstrated that lighting mode had significant impacts on survival rate, stress response, and oxidative stress. It can be concluded that lighting the basking area only is the optimal lighting mode for soft-shelled turtles in a greenhouse. From the perspective of breeding welfare, soft-shelled turtles are suggested to be provided with a separate area for basking when cultured in a greenhouse. Keywords: Chinese soft-shelled turtle, Lighting mode, Oxidative stress, Stress response, Survival rate.