Salinity in the culture of Nile tilapia in a biofloc system: Influence on growth and hematological parameters

Document Type : Original research

Authors

1 Laboratório de Camarões Marinhos, Departamento de Aquicultura, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Beco dos Coroas, 593, Barra da Lagoa, 88061-600, Florianopolis, Brazil

2 Laboratório de Saúde de Organismos Aquáticos AQUOS, Departamento de Aquicultura, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Brazil

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of different salinities on water quality, growth performance, and hematology of the Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus cultured in a biofloc system. Four different salinities with four replicates were evaluated: 2, 8, 15, and 22 PSU. The fish (200 ± 10 g) were stocked at a density of 15 fish m-3 in tanks with 800 L of useful volume for 56 days. Fish were fed with a 32 % crude protein commercial feed. Water quality remained stable throughout the study. The growth parameters differed, with the salinities of 2 and 8 PSU presenting higher growth and survival. The treatment of 15 PSU showed high survival, however, with reduced growth. The salinity of 22 PSU had lower results than the others for all parameters analyzed. The hematological evaluation showed differences in RBC, hematocrit, and glucose counts, indicating that salinity may have caused stress to animals cultured at higher salinities, thus, causing low growth and survival. These results indicate that Nile tilapia can tolerate high salinities when cultured in a biofloc system. However, salinities above 15 PSU may compromise its growth and weight gain.

Keywords

International Aquatic Research
Volume 14, Issue 2
June 2022
Pages 139-146

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