Abstract
Although fish may live in different aquatic environments, variations in the water quality parameters, mainly pH, may have a substantial impact in their development and welfare. The objective of this study was to test the effect of different pH levels on the growth performance and biochemical variables in Amazon catfish juveniles (Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum x Leiarius marmoratus). Fish were subjected to four different water pH levels (4.56, 6.0, 7.24, and 8.90) for 40 days. The total ammonia and alkalinity were higher and lower, respectively, in the treatments with water pHs 4.56 and 6.00 than at the other water pH levels. The un-ionized ammonia was higher at water pH 8.90 than at the other water pH levels. Amazon catfish exposed to water pH 4.56 presented specific growth rate and weight gain significantly higher than other water pH values. In general, fish under exposure to water pH 8.90 presented lower growth performance than other water pH values. Biochemical changes were recorded at all water pH. In conclusion, water pH 4.56 is recommended for an Amazon catfish production system, since fish presented higher growth and water quality variables were kept within adequate limits for aquaculture.
Highlights
Fish inhabit different aquatic environments, and changes in water quality parameters may compromise their development and welfare
The Amazon catfish exposed to water pH 8.90 presented final weight and final length significantly lower than those subjected to water pH levels of 4.56 and 6.00 (P < 0.05)
Water quality variables of the present study were within the limits established for cachara (Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum) (Campos 2010) and silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) (Baldisserotto 2013), species whose genus is the same as the parental species of the hybrid Amazon catfish
Summary
Fish inhabit different aquatic environments, and changes in water quality parameters may compromise their development and welfare. In Amazon basin there are acid or alkaline water environments and fish can migrate from one river to another mainly in the flood season (Baldisserotto et al 2009). These changes can trigger stress and, reduce growth and impair physiological homeostasis Acidic water can promote ionic imbalance due to high concentrations of H+, which causes the inhibition of influx of Na+, K+ and Ca2+ ions (Aride et al 2007) This results in disorders in blood cells, plasma proteins and the volume of fish fluids, which can trigger death from circulatory insufficiency (Wood 1989). At higher water pH, physiological homeostasis starts to break down in most species, with the principal problem being a build up of toxic ammonia in the body fluids associated with an inhibition of branchial ammonia excretion (Wilkie and Wood 1996)
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