Effects of temperature and salinity on the survival and development of mud crab, Scylla serrata (Forsskål), larvae

The combined effects of temperature and salinity on larval survival and development of the mud crab, Scylla serrata, were investigated in the laboratory. Newly hatched larvae were reared under 20 °C temperature and salinity combinations (i.e. combinations of four temperatures 25, 28, 31, 34 °C with five salinities 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 g L⁻¹). The results showed that temperature and salinity as well as the interaction of the two parameters significantly affected the survival of zoeal larvae. Salinity at 15 g L⁻¹ resulted in no larval survival to the first crab stage, suggesting that the lower salinity tolerance limit for mud crab larvae lies somewhere between salinity 15 and 20 g L⁻¹. However, within the salinity range of 20–35 g L⁻¹, no significant effects on survival of zoeal larvae were detected (P>0.05). The combined effects of temperature and salinity on larval survival were also evident as at low salinities, both high and low temperature led to mass mortality of newly hatched larvae (e.g. 34 °C/15 g L⁻¹, 34 °C/20 g L⁻¹ and 25 °C/15 g L⁻¹ combinations). In contrast, the low temperature and high salinity combination of 25 °C/35 g L⁻¹ resulted in one of the highest survival to the megalopal stage. It was also shown that at optimal 28 °C, larvae could withstand broader salinity conditions. Temperature, salinity and their interaction also significantly affected larval development. At 34 °C, the mean larval development time to megalopa under different salinity conditions ranged from 13.5 to 18.5 days. It increased to between 20.6 and 22.6 days at 25 °C. The effects of salinity on larval development were demonstrated by the fact that for all the temperatures tested, the fastest mean development to megalopa was always recorded at the salinity of 25 g L⁻¹. However, a different trend of salinity effects was shown for megalopae as their duration consistently increased with an increase in salinity from 20 to 35 g L⁻¹. In summary, S. serrata larvae tolerate a broad range of salinity and temperature conditions. Rearing temperature 25–30 °C and salinity 20–35 g L⁻¹ generally result in reasonable survival. However, from an aquaculture point of view, a higher temperature range of 28–30 °C and a salinity range of 20–30 g L⁻¹ are recommended as it shortens the culture cycle.     

Improved survival of rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton-Buchanan) and silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Valenciennes) fingerlings using low-dose quinaldine and benzocaine during transport

The effects of fingerlings immersion in low‐dose benzocaine (15 and 30 mg L⁻¹, silver carp and rohu) and quinaldine (100 μL L⁻¹ silver crap and 250 μL L⁻¹ rohu) for 1, 3 and 6 h on stress responses and survival of rohu, Labeo rohita and silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix fingerlings were evaluated in a transport simulation experiment. Both quinaldine and benzocaine showed low mortalities (0–2%). The total mortality in control (with no anaesthesia) was 30% for rohu and 14% for silver carp. Quinaldine and benzocaine‐treated fingerlings had significantly higher plasma chloride levels than the control in both species. Benzocaine, quinaldine, as well as the control, had an initial elevation of plasma cortisol levels. Benzocaine lost its effectiveness after 3 h exposure while quinaldine persisted throughout the 6 h experimental period. Both sedatives reduced bacterial build‐up compared with the control. No post‐exposure mortality was observed for any of the transport methods assessed 48 h after the treatment. This study suggests that the use of low‐dose benzocaine or quinaldine during transport has positive effect on the survival and health of rohu and silver carp fingerlings.     

Effect of ammonia-N on growth and feeding of juvenile Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De-Man)

Survival rate, growth and feed intake were determined for late juveniles (4.31 ± 0.18 g) of river prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii in freshwater with total ammonia‐N (NH₃‐N+NH₄‐N) concentrations of 0.015 (control), 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mg L⁻¹ for 60 days at pH 7.53 ± 0.04 and temperature 24.0 ± 2.5°C. Survival rate was significantly (P<0.05) lower (54 ± 4.2–70 ± 5.4%) for total ammonia concentrations from 0.5 to 1.5 mg L⁻¹ [0.0139–0.0419 mg L⁻¹ of unionized ammonia (NH₃)]. Growth (0.026–0.030 g day⁻¹ range) of the prawns did not differ for the different NH₃ levels but were significantly (P<0.05) lower compared with control (0.056 g day⁻¹). Feed intake rates also diminished significantly (P<0.05) from 77.60 ± 2.45% at control (0.015 mg L⁻¹ NH₃‐N) to 48.69 ± 2.13% at 1.5 mg L⁻¹ NH₃‐N (0.0419 mg L⁻¹ of unionized NH₃).     

Effects of salinity and temperature during incubation on hatching and development of lingcod Ophiodon elongatus Girard, embryos

The interactive effects of salinity and temperature on development and hatching success of lingcod, Ophiodon elongatus Girard, were studied by incubating eggs at four temperatures (6, 9, 12 and 15°C) and five salinities (15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 g L^?1). Hatch did not occur in any of the 15°C treatments. Degree days (°C days) to first hatch was not influenced by temperature or salinity, however, calendar days to first hatch differed significantly for temperature (P<0.0001, 61±1, 44±1 and 35±1 days for 6, 9 and 12°C respectively). Degree days to 50% (427.1±4.2) hatch was not significantly influenced by temperature but was by salinity (P=0.0324). Viable hatch (live with no deformities, 74.1±4.0%) was greatest at 9°C and 25 g L^?1 but not significantly different in the range of 20–30 g L^?1. Larval length (9.4±0.13 mm) was greatest at 9°C and 20–30 g L^?1. Temperature and salinity significantly influenced all categories of deformities with treatments at the upper (12°C and 35 g L^?1) and lower limits (6°C and 15 g L^?1) producing the greatest deformities. The optimal temperature and salinity for incubating Puget Sound lingcod eggs was found to be 9°C and 20–30 g L^?1.     

Effect of salinity on survival, growth, oxygen consumption and ammonia-N excretion of juvenile whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei

In this study, we tested the lower salinity tolerance of juvenile shrimps (Litopenaeus vannamei) at a relatively low temperature (20 °C). In the first of two laboratory experiments, we first abruptly transferred shrimps (6.91 ± 0.05 g wet weight, mean ± SE) from the rearing salinity (35 000 mg L^?1) to salinities of 5000, 15 000, 25 000, 35 000 (control) and 40 000 mg L^?1 at 20 °C. The survival of L. vannamei juvenile was not affected by salinities from 15 000 to 40 000 mg L^?1 during the 96‐h exposure periods. Shrimps exposed to 5000 mg L^?1 were significantly affected by salinity, with a survival of 12.5% after 96 h. The 24‐, 48‐ and 96‐h lethal salinity for 50% (LS₅₀) were 7020, 8510 and 9540 mg L^?1 respectively. In the second experiment, shrimps (5.47 ± 0.09 g wet weight, mean ± SE) were acclimatized to the different salinity levels (5000, 15 000, 25 000, 35 000 and 40 000 mg L^?1) and then maintained for 30 days at 20 °C. Results showed that the survival was significantly lower at 5000 mg L^?1 than at other salinity levels, but the final wet weight under 5000 mg L^?1 treatment was significantly higher than those under other treatments (P<0.05). Feed intake (FI) of shrimp under 5000 mg L^?1 was significantly lower than those of shrimp under 150 00–40 000 mg L^?1; food conversion efficiency (FCE), however, showed a contrasting change (P<0.05). Furthermore, salinity significantly influenced the oxygen consumption rates, ammonia‐N excretion rates and the O/N ratio of test shrimps (P<0.05). The results obtained in our work provide evidence that L. vannamei juveniles have limited capacity to tolerate salinities <10 000 mg L^?1 at a relatively low temperature (20 °C). Results also show that L. vannamei juvenile can recover from the abrupt salinity change between 15 000 and 40 000 mg L^?1 within 24 h.     

Dietary protein requirement of juvenile Mexican Silverside (Menidia estor Jordan 1879), a stomachless zooplanktophagous fish

A study was conducted in order to determine the protein requirements of juvenile Mexican silverside (Menidia estor). Seven isoenergetic diets (≈19.9 MJ kg⁻¹) with dietary protein levels of 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500 and 550 g kg⁻¹ were prepared as flakes using jack (Caranx sp.) and red snapper (Lutjanus sp.) fillets, tuna (Thunnus sp.) ovaries and California squid (Loligo sp.) as protein sources, and their effects on growth, survival and feed utilization of juvenile M. estor (69.24 ± 5.03 mg initial weight) were evaluated. Fish were fed by hand to apparent satiation, five times a day, for 8 weeks. Best growth and survival were obtained with diets with protein levels between 400 and 500 g kg⁻¹, with no significant differences between them (P > 0.05). Specific growth rate and feed intake were also highest for these treatments (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio between fish fed all the diets. Broken‐line analysis of individual weight gain against protein level showed a protein requirement of 409 g kg⁻¹ for juveniles of M. estor.     

Effectiveness of eugenol sedation to reduce the metabolic rates of cool and warm water fish at high loading densities

Effects of eugenol (AQUI‐S^®20E, 10% active eugenol) sedation on cool water, yellow perch Perca flavescens (Mitchill), and warm water, Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus L. fish metabolic rates were assessed. Both species were exposed to 0, 10, 20 and 30 mg L^?1 eugenol using static respirometry. In 17°C water and loading densities of 60, 120 and 240 g L^?1, yellow perch controls (0 mg L^?1 eugenol) had metabolic rates of 329.6–400.0 mg O₂ kg^?1 h^?1, while yellow perch exposed to 20 and 30 mg L^?1 eugenol had significantly reduced metabolic rates of 258.4–325.6 and 189.1–271.0 mg O₂ kg^?1 h^?1 respectively. Nile tilapia exposed to 30 mg L^?1 eugenol had a significantly reduced metabolic rate (424.5 ± 42.3 mg O₂ kg^?1 h^?1) relative to the 0 mg L^?1 eugenol control (546.6 ± 53.5 mg O₂ kg^?1 h^?1) at a loading density of 120 g L^?1 in 22°C water. No significant differences in metabolic rates for Nile tilapia were found at 240 or 360 g L^?1 loading densities when exposed to eugenol. Results suggest that eugenol sedation may benefit yellow perch welfare at high densities (e.g. live transport) due to a reduction in metabolic rates, while further research is needed to assess the benefits of eugenol sedation on Nile tilapia at high loading densities.     

Clove oil as an anaesthetic for common octopus (Octopus minor, Sasaki)

We evaluated the anaesthetic effect of clove oil [2‐methoxy‐4‐2‐(2‐propenyl)‐phenol] on the common octopus (Octopus minor), in terms of the time required to become anaesthetized (‘anaesthetic time’) and recovery time. We used a factorial experimental design and administered clove oil at different temperatures (15, 20 and 25°C) and concentrations (50, 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 mg L⁻¹). We observed a significant (P<0.05) relationship between concentration and temperature, and each variable was effective (P<0.05). Anaesthetic time linearly decreased as the concentration and temperature increased. However, recovery time increased as the concentration increased and temperature decreased. There was no mortality. A concentration of 200 mg L⁻¹ clove oil showed rapid anaesthetic and recovery times in the common octopus, indicating its suitability for this species.     

Oxygen consumption of the ascidian Styela clava in relation to body mass,temperature and salinity

The metabolic physiological response to body mass, temperature (12–28 °C) and salinity (20–36 g L^?1) was examined in this paper. Oxygen consumption rate, which is dependent on environmental conditions, was exponentially related to body mass and varied from 0.045 to 1.11 mg h^?1 g^?1. Oxygen consumption rate increased as salinity increased from 20 to 36 g L^?1, and increased with increasing temperature. The effect of temperature gradient between experimental treatments on oxygen consumption rate was evaluated by calculating Q₁₀ (the Arrehenius relationship for increase with temperature). The Q₁₀ value within the temperature range from 12 to 16 °C was much higher than the value within the temperature range from 16 to 20 °C, 20 to 24 °C and 24 to 28 °C, indicating a reduced temperature dependence of ascidian metabolism at a high temperature.     

Effects of temperature on the growth of pollack (Pollachius pollachius) juveniles

Growth of juvenile pollack was assessed at five constant temperatures (9, 12, 15, 18 and 21 °C) in an 84-day trial. Duplicate groups of 75 fish (initial weight 143 ± 2 g) were held in O₂ saturated water (102–103% saturation) and fed to apparent satiation. Growth increased as temperature increased from 9 °C up to a plateau at 12–15 °C (NS differences between 12 and 15 °C) followed by a decrease from 18 °C. No growth occurred at 21 °C. For the overall period, specific growth rates were 0.52% and 0.53% day^− 1 at 12 and 15 °C compared to 0.40% day^− 1 at 18 °C. Feed intake was maximum at 15–18 °C (0.68–0.69% day^− 1) and it was significantly lower at 21 °C (0.45% day^− 1). Apparent feed conversion ratio was significantly higher at 18 °C than at 12–15 °C (1.8 compared to 1.2–1.4). There was no significant change in fish whole body composition related to temperature.At the end of the experiment, fish growth recovery following a transfer from 18 and 21 °C to 15 °C was assessed using a 50-day challenge test. Growth rate of the previous 21 °C group was the same as in the 15 °C group (NS differences) and in the previous 18 °C group it was significantly lower. The study showed that pollack have a high capacity to recover from a prolonged period of low or no growth induced by high temperatures.     

Growth of juvenile common snook (Centropomus undecimalis Bloch, 1792) reared at different temperatures and salinities: Morphometric parameters,RNA/DNA,and protein/DNA ratios

We investigated the growth of juvenile common snook (Centropomus undecimalis) reared at 25°C and 28°C and salinities of 0.3, 15, and 32 g L^?1. Total length, weight, RNA/DNA, and protein/DNA ratios were determined after 90 days of experiment. Higher growth was observed at 28ºC compared with 25°C, at the same salinity. At 28°C and 15 g L^?1 salinity, the weight (25.14 g) of juveniles was twice that of the juveniles reared at the lower temperature. At different salinities, only higher temperature affected growth, with higher weight values obtained at 15 g L^?1 in comparison with 0.3 and 32 g L^?1. Length was similar at 0.3 and 15 g L^?1. The RNA/DNA ratio was greater in juveniles reared at a salinity of 15 g L^?1 when compared with 0.3 and 32 g L^?1. This study shows that the combination of higher temperature and intermediate salinity promotes better growth of common snook juveniles.     

Anaesthetic efficacy of clove oil,benzocaine, 2‐phenoxyethanol and tricaine methanesulfonate in juvenile marbled spinefoot (Siganus rivulatus)

Anaesthetics are used in aquaculture and fisheries to facilitate routine procedures, such as capture, handling, transportation, tagging, grading and measurements that can often cause injury or induce physiological stress. Two experiments were performed to assess the efficacies of four anaesthetic agents, clove oil, benzocaine, 2‐phenoxyethanol and MS‐222 on juvenile marbled spinefoot rabbitfish (Siganus rivulatus). In the first experiment we tested the lowest effective doses that produced induction and recovery times in 3 min or less and 5 min or less respectively. Dosages were 70 mg L^?1 for clove oil, 60–70 mg L^?1 for benzocaine, 400 μL L^?1 for 2‐phenoxyethanol and 100–125 mg L^?1 for MS‐222. In the second experiment, we determined optimal concentrations of the four anaesthetics if they were to be used to transport rabbitfish fry. Anaesthetic concentrations suitable for handling and transport were: 10–15 mg L^?1 of MS‐222, 5–10 mg L^?1 of benzocaine, 5 mg L^?1 of clove oil and 50–100 μL L^?1 of 2‐phenoxyethanol. All anaesthetic agents are acceptable for use on S. rivulatus, however, 2‐phenoxyethanol, MS‐222 and clove oil appear to be more suitable than benzocaine. Further studies need to be conducted on effects of high and low doses of anaesthetic agents on physiology of marbled spinefoot.     

Digestive protease activity in juvenile Farfantepenaeus californiensis as a function of dissolved oxygen and temperature

Total protease, trypsin and chymotrypsin activities were examined in postlarval Farfantepenaeus californiensis (Holmes) after they had been reared for 50 days at two dissolved oxygen concentrations (5.8 and 2.6 mg L⁻¹) and three temperatures (19, 23 and 27 °C). Three replicated experiments were performed with a 12-h light/dark photoperiod. Two-way analysis of variance indicated a significant effect of temperature and oxygen (P < 0.05) on total protease and chymotrypsin activities, but no effect of oxygen was found on trypsin activity. A tendency towards increased protease, trypsin and chymotrypsin activities with acclimation temperature was observed. Total protease activity (units per mg protein) varied from 0.26 in shrimp held at 19 °C and low oxygen concentration to 1.41 in shrimp held at 23 °C and high oxygen concentration. Trypsin activity (units per mg protein) varied from 0.16 in shrimp held at 19 °C and low oxygen concentration to 0.86 in shrimp held at 27 °C and high oxygen concentration. Chymotrypsin activity (units per mg protein) varied from 0.014 in shrimp held at 19 °C and low oxygen concentration to 0.15 (units per mg protein) in shrimp held at 27 °C and low oxygen concentration. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) zymograms of hepatopancreas from each of the treatment groups showed numerous bands. The results suggest that different digestive protease enzymes arise as an adaptation mechanism to temperature and dissolved oxygen variations at this particular stage of life.     

Water parameters affect anaesthesia induced by eugenol in silver catfish,Rhamdia quelen

The present study investigated the effects of water pH (5.0, 7.0 and 9.0), hardness (0, 20 and 120 mg CaCO₃ L^?1) and temperature (15, 23 and 30 °C) on the induction of sedation and anaesthesia, and subsequent recovery, of silver catfish exposed to eugenol. Moreover, the blood gas tensions (PvO₂ and PvCO₂) and blood pH in silver catfish acclimated to these temperatures were investigated after exposure to eugenol. Water pH, hardness, temperature and fish size affect the efficacy of eugenol in silver catfish, particularly at the lower concentrations tested (20 and 30 mg L^?1). Sedation of this species can be induced at concentrations as low as 20 mg L^?1, but for anaesthesia, a concentration of at least 40 mg L^?1 of eugenol must be used to compensate for the influence of fish size and water quality. Blood gas tension and pH were affected by eugenol anaesthesia, but only in fish acclimated to 30 °C.     

Acute toxicity of ammonia in Pacu fish (Piaractus mesopotamicus,Holmberg, 1887) at different temperatures levels

Piaractus mesopotamicus juveniles (total length 12 ± 0.5 mm) were exposed to different concentrations of ammonia‐N (un‐ionized plus ionized ammonia as nitrogen), using the static renewal method at different temperature levels (15, 20 and 25°C) at pH 7. The 24, 48, 72, 96 h LC₅₀ values of ammonia‐N in P. mesopotamicus juveniles were 5.32, 4.19, 3.79 and 2.85 mg L^?1 at 15°C; 4.81, 3.97, 3.25 and 2.50 mg L^?1 at 20°C; and 4.16, 3.79, 2.58 and 1.97 mg L^?1 at 25°C respectively. The 24, 48, 72, 96 h LC₅₀ values of NH₃‐N (un‐ionized ammonia as nitrogen) were 0.018, 0.014, 0.013, 0.009 mg L^?1 at 15°C temperature; 0.023, 0.019, 0.016 and 0.012 mg L^?1 at 20°C; 0.029, 0.026, 0.018 and 0.014 mg L^?1 at 25°C. The temperature increase from 15 to 25°C caused an increase of ammonia‐N susceptibility by 21.80%, 9.55%, 31.92% and 30.87%, after 24, 48, 72 and 96 h exposure respectively. Furthermore, we found that exposure of fish to ammonia‐N caused an elevation in total haemoglobin and blood glucose with an increase of 2 mg L^?1 concentration. Ammonia levels tolerated, especially in different temperatures levels, have important implications for the management of aquaculture.     

Live transportation of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man) in chilled sawdust

Three cooling rates of 1.26±0.09°C h^?1 within 8 h (slow, T₁), 2.52±0.18°C h^?1 within 4 h (moderate, T₂) and 5.04±0.36°C h^?1 within 2 h (fast, T₃) were tested to cold‐anaesthetize farm raised Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man) (45–52 g) in each case from 25°C down to 15±1°C in a refrigerated chilling tank, provided with aeration. The cold‐anaesthetized prawns subjected to each chilling rate were packed in an insulated cardboard box (triplicate) between two layers of moist and chilled (2–3°C) sawdust, and kept inside a chilled storage cabinet at 15±1°C, for set durations of 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 h. Survival was determined by revitalizing the prawns in aerated water with an initial temperature of 20°C, which was raised to 29±1°C within 3 h. The experiment was repeated using berried females acclimated to brackishwater of 12 g L^?1 salinity and the percentage survival recorded after live storage for durations ranging from 6 to 24 h at intervals of 3 h. Statistically valid safe durations for obtaining 100% survival of the cold anaesthetized and live stored prawns were determined using probit analysis at the three chilling rates tested, and were found to be 7.39, 6.98 and 4.54 h in the case of adult prawns, and 7.87, 8.17 and 6.43 h for berried females for T₁, T₂ and T₃ respectively. For practical purposes, the durations that yielded 95% survival rates were computed to be 16.47, 12.14 and 8.35 h in the case of adult prawns and 18.49, 19.02 and 11.11 h for berried females for T₁, T₂, and T₃ respectively. The berried prawns revitalized after live storage were incubated in tanks and the zoea larvae reared up to postlarvae (PL‐5), and compared against a control. No significant difference was found in larval hatch fecundity, survival rate and the production of PL L^?1 between the treatment and control, indicating that the method of cold anaesthetization and live storage of berried prawns could be used for successful transportation of broodstock.     

Effect of temperature and phytoplankton concentration of Partitioned Aquaculture System water on freshwater mussel filtration

The freshwater mussel Elliptio complanata was provided green algal‐dominated water from a Partitioned Aquaculture System (PAS) over a range of water temperatures (6.1–32.4 °C) and suspended particulate organic carbon (POC) concentrations (<1–32.2 mg C L^?1) to determine filtration rates as mg POC kg^?1 wet tissue weight h^?1. The lowest filtration rates were observed at lowest temperatures and POC concentrations while the highest rates were at intermediate temperatures and the highest POC levels. The predicted filtration rate (PFR) in response to water temperature and POC concentrations was as follows: ln PFR=1.4352+0.1192 POC+0.1399 T?0.0001 T³. Within the experimental conditions, PFRs at any POC concentration increased with increased water temperature to a peak at 22 °C and then decreased. The maximum PFR occurred at 22 °C and 32 mg C L^?1 and the minimum PFR at 7 °C and 1 mg C L^?1. A model to describe the mussel filtration rate responses to PAS water conditions involves both water temperature and POC concentration.     

Daily variation in short-term static toxicity of unionized ammonia in Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) postlarvae

Ammonium toxicity of short‐duration alkaline events and their variability, as related to 1–30 day‐old postlarvae whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone), was assessed by determining medium lethal concentration (LC₅₀) of total ammonium‐nitroen (TAN) and NH₃‐N to 4‐h exposures. Exploratory concentrations of TAN were tested at 30°C and pH 9, until mortality from 5% to 95% occurred between 0.9 and 18 mg N L^?1. To determine the daily variation of ammonium toxicity, 64 lots of 20 postlarvae were exposed to eight different ammonium concentrations (0, 0.9, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 mg N L^?1), in two different environmental scenarios: α (pH 8, 26°C) and β (pH 9, 30°C). In environmental scenario α, ammonium concentrations up to 18 mg L^?1 pose no short‐term mortality risks for ages 1–30 days. In scenario β, mortality was recorded at all ages. The values of LC₅₀ (4 h) for different postlarvae ages have daily variability, ranging from a minimum of 2.54 to a maximum of 6.02 mg L^?1 of TAN (0.76 and 1.81 mg N L^?1 of NH₃‐N), for PL₃ and PL₁₉, respectively, with a logarithmic linear tendency to increase with age. Postlarvae mortality at 4 h and 3.0 mg N L^?1 TAN exposure was lower and less variable in ages greater than 19 days old.     

Survival and behavioural responses of cool and warm water fish sedated with AQUI‐S®20E (10% eugenol) at high loading densities

This study evaluated the effects of AQUI‐S^®20E (10% eugenol) sedation on the survival and behaviour of yellow perch Perca flavescens (Mitchill) and Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus L. held in high loading densities. Fish were held in 0–300 mg L^?1 AQUI‐S^®20E (0–30 mg L^?1 eugenol) for up to 10 h in static tanks. At 17°C, yellow perch held in 200 and 300 mg L^?1 AQUI‐S^®20E were lightly sedated for up to 7 h. Yellow perch at 200 and 300 mg L^?1 AQUI‐S^®20E also had >95% mean survival 7‐days post exposure using loading densities up to 360 g L^?1. Nile tilapia were only sedated for ≤3 h in concentrations up to 300 mg L^?1 at 22°C and had >90% mean survival at loading densities ≤480 g L^?1. Ammonia in tanks increased significantly as loading density increased, but treatment with AQUI–S^®20E did not reduce ammonia accumulation. Results suggest that AQUI–S^®20E was effective to sedate yellow perch and Nile tilapia at high loading densities, but sedation varied with loading density and species.     

Effects of temperature and salinity on oxygen consumption of tawny puffer Takifugu flavidus juvenile

The respiratory rates of Tawny puffer Takifugu flavidus juvenile were measured at four temperatures (20, 23, 26 and 29 °C) and seven salinities (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 g L^?1). The results showed that both temperature and salinity significantly affected the oxygen consumption of tawny puffer juvenile. The oxygen consumption rate (OCR) increased significantly with an increase in the temperature from 20 to 29 °C. Over the entire experimental temperature range (20–29 °C), the Q₁₀ value was 1.59, and the lowest Q₁₀ value was found between 23 and 26 °C. The optimal temperature for the juvenile lies between 23 °C and 26 °C. The OCR at 25 g L^?1 was the highest among all salinity treatments. The OCRs show a parabolic relationship with salinity (5–35 g L^?1). From the quadratic relationship, the highest OCR was predicted to occur at 23.56 g L^?1. The optimal salinity range for the juvenile is from 23 to 25 g L^?1. The results of this study are useful towards facilitating an increase in the production of the species juvenile culture.