EVALUATION OF SILVER CARP FRY TRANSPORTATION METHODS ON WATER QUALITY AND SURVIVAL RATIO

Abstract

The effect of stocking densities (30, 60, 90, and 120 g/l), durations of transportation (2, 4, and 6 hours), with two methods of aeration (pure oxygen and atmospheric air)in three different containers shapes (polyethylene bags, cylindrical and cuboids) on silver carp fry, and water quality parameters was tested. Water samples were taken at 2 h intervals after transport to determine oxygen concentration, pH, and total ammonia concentration. Oxygen concentration adjusted to 8 ppm for all treatments at transport start of silver carp fries. The results revealed that both water quality and survival ratio were affected by method of transportation. Oxygen concentration, pH values, ammonia concentration and survival ratio measured in pure oxygen supply were significantly (P<0.05) higher compared to those measured in atmospheric air supply under all treatments. The oxygen concentration of silver carp fry transportation was in the range of 0.67 to 7.11 mg/l, and the stocking densities from 30 to 120 g/l. Transportation durations significantly affected the oxygen concentration under closed system (polyethylene bags) and open system (cylindrical and cuboids containers). The pH values of the water during silver carp fry transportation were in the range of 6.35 to 7.2, and the lowest ph value of 6.35 was recorded at 30 g/l stocking density, 2 h duration of transportation, pure oxygen supply and polyethylene bags containers. The ammonia concentration values of silver carp fry transportation was in the range of 1.1 to 7.0 mg/l, and the lowest ammonia value of 1.1g/l was recorded at 30 g/l stocking density, 2 h duration of transportation, pure oxygen supply and polyethylene bags container. The lowest survival ratio of silver carp fry transportation value of 14.97% was recorded at 120 g/l stocking density, atmospheric air supply with 6 h duration of transportation, and the highest survival ratio value of 97.13% was recorded at 30 g/l stocking density, 2 h duration of transportation, pure oxygen supply and polyethylene bags containers. The lowest cost value of silver carp fry transportation of 0.09 L.E per 5g. for live fry was recorded at 120 g/l stocking density, 2 h duration of transportation, pure oxygen supply and polyethylene bags containers, but then, the highest cost value of silver carp fry transportation of 0.92 L.E. per 5g. for live fry was recorded at 30 g/l stocking density, 6 h duration of transportation, atmospheric air supply with polyethylene bags containers. From the obtained results, the best parameters of silver carp fry transportation methods could be transport with stocking density of (30 g/l), duration of transportation of (2 hours), methods of aeration of pure oxygen supply, and container shape of polyethylene bags to achieve the highest values of oxygen concentration and the survival ratio and the lowest values of the pH value, ammonia concentration and total cost.