Effect of density on survival, physiological parameters and water quality during pirarucu transportation in open system

摘要

The loading density of pirarucu Arapaima gigas transported for 6hr in open system was assessed on survival, physiological parameters (blood hematocrit, cortisol, lactate and glucose concentrations) and water quality (temperature, pH, ammonia, dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide). No mortality was observed after fish transportation at 80, 120 and 160kg/m(3), although ammonia and carbon dioxide concentrations increased and dissolved oxygen decreased. Physiological parameters were not affected by loading density but significant differences were observed between sampling periods (immediately before transport, immediately after transport, 24 and 96hr after transport), except glucose. Hematocrit values increased with time, whereas lactate concentration decreased. No significant differences were observed in blood cortisol levels before and after transport, but concentration increased gradually for 96hr after transport. According to the results, 9kg pirarucu may be transported for up to 6hr at a loading density of 160kg/m(3).