The growth, physiology and skin pigmentation of pacamã Lophiosilurus alexandri juveniles were evaluated in an experiment using different tank colours (white, yellow, green, blue, brown and black) over an 80 day period. The tank colours did not cause significant differences to final body mass, total length, survival rate, carcass composition (moisture, crude protein, ash, ether extract, calcium, phosphorus, energy), or to plasma protein, triglyceride and cholesterol values. Haematocrit values, however, were highest for fish kept in white tanks (ANOVA P < 0·05), while the greatest haemoglobin levels were recorded for fish kept in blue and brown tanks (P < 0·01). The concentrations of cortisol (P < 0·001) and glucose (P < 0·01) were the most in fish in the black tanks. Tank colour affected skin pigmentation significantly, with fish in white tanks having the highest values of L* (brightness) and the lowest values in blue and black tanks. L*, however, decreased in all treatments throughout the experiment. C* increased significantly over the course of the experiment in fish kept in white tanks. Similar increases of C* were recorded in the other treatments but to a lesser extent. The use of black tanks during the cultivation of L. alexandri caused stress and should be avoided. Cultivation in white and yellow tanks produced individuals with a pale skin colour, while cultivation in blue and black tanks resulted in juveniles with a darker and more pigmented skin.

Summary Different stocking densities were investigated in larviculture and feeding of Lophiosilurus alexandri, as well as analyses of the effects on juveniles of two size‐classes and two different commercial formulated diets. The first experiment was two‐phased: (a) larvae stocked at densities of 60, 120, 180, 240, and 300 larvae L−1 fed with Artemia nauplii and reared for 15 days; (b) in phase 2, densities of 5, 10, 15, 30, and 40 juveniles L−1 were evaluated during feed training (20 days). Mean water temperature in both phases was 28°C. In the first phase of experiment 1, the different stocking densities did not affect fish growth or survival. In phase 2, growth was similar in all densities; however, survival was lower at higher densities. The increased density provided a rise in biomass and number of individuals produced in both phases. In the second experiment, two size‐classes of feed‐trained juveniles (30.22 ± 1.84 and 34.66 ± 2.41 mm) were given pellets of two different diameters (1.2 and 2.6 mm) for 20 days. The largest juveniles fed the 1.2 mm inert diet had higher final weights and lengths. Larviculture and feed training of L. alexandri can thus be performed successfully at high stocking densities of 300 larvae L−1 during the first 15 days of feeding, and at densities of up to 40 juveniles L−1 during the 20 days of feed training, respectively.

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Samples of eggs, newly hatched larvae (NHL), and larvae at the end of the lecithotrophic period (eight days after hatching) (LPL) of Lophiosilurus alexandri were collected to determine the amino acid and fatty acid profiles. Crude protein did not change throughout initial development and the concentration of lipids was highest in NHL. The content of the indispensable amino acids (IAA) isoleucine, leucine, and valine decreased in LPL, while in eggs and NHL they remained high and similar in value. The dispensable amino acids (DAA), such as aspartic acid, tyrosine, and glycine, increased in LPL, while alanine decreased. The percentage of neutral lipids increased in LPL. The saturated fatty acid content decreased during ontogeny, while monounsaturated fatty acids decreased only in LPL. The polyunsaturated fatty acid content was highest in LP. Polar fatty acids were found in higher percentages in eggs and NHL, but lower in LPL. Saturated fatty acid content decreased during ontogenetic development, while that of monounsaturated fatty acids decreased only in LPL. Polyunsaturated fatty acid content was highest in LPL. Protein content was maintained during ontogenetic development, while amino acid classes experienced changes. Lophiosilurus alexandri preferentially uses saturated and monosaturated fatty acids as an energy source during its early development.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of water temperature and prey concentrations (Artemia nauplii) on the initial development of Lophiosilurus alexandri larvae. The experiment was conducted using a 4 x 2 factorial design, with four water temperatures (23, 26, 29 and 32 °C), two different initial prey concentrations (P 700 and P 1,300 ) and three replicates. Feeding was increased during the fifteen-day experiment. At the end of the experiment, the survival and condition factor were affected only by prey concentrations, with elevated numbers of Artemia nauplii leading to higher averages of these variables. The total length (TL) and specific growth rate were separately influenced by temperature and prey concentration, without interaction between them, and weight showed an interaction with these factors. In general, an increase of temperature (23 to 32 °C) improved the growth and nitrogen gain in L alexandri larvae. For TL, the optimal temperatures estimated were 31.4 and 31.0 °C for P 700 and P 1,300 , respectively. Similar mean body weight larvae and nitrogen gain were observed at 23 °C for both levels of prey concentrations. For other temperatures, the P 1,300 level provided greater weight gain for L. alexandri. Therefore, it is suggested that temperatures between 29-32 °C combined with a higher level of prey concentration maximise the development and nitrogen gain in L. alexandri larvae. Moreover, this is the first result about nitrogen incorporation in neotropical fish larvae.O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os efeitos da temperatura da água e concentrações de presas (náuplios de Artemia) no desenvolvimento inicial de larvas de Lophiosilurus alexandri. O experimento foi conduzido em esquema fatorial 4 x 2, com quatro temperaturas da água (23, 26, 29 and 32 °C), duas concentrações de presas (P 700 e P 1.300 ) e três réplicas. A quantidade de alimento ofertado aumentou durante os 15 dias de experimento. Ao final do experimento a sobrevivência e o fator de condição foram afetados apenas pela concentração de presas, sendo que a maior concentração proporcionou médias superiores para as variáveis mencionadas. O comprimento total (CT) e a taxa de crescimento específico foram influenciados separadamente pelos fatores temperatura e concentração de presa, sem interação entre os fatores, e o peso individual das larvas apresentou interação entre os fatores estudados. Em geral, o aumento da temperatura (de 23 para 32 °C) promoveu o crescimento e o ganho em nitrogênio nas larvas de L alexandri. Para o CT, a temperatura ótima ficou em 31,4 e 31,0 °C para P 700 e P 1.300 , respectivamente. Médias semelhantes do peso individual e ganho em nitrogênio foram observadas nos animais cultivados a 23 °C em ambos os níveis de concentração de presas. Nas demais temperaturas, o nível de P 1.300 levou a um maior ganho em peso para as larvas de L. alexandri. Desta forma, conclui-se que o desenvolvimento inicial das larvas de L. alexandri é afetado por ambos os fatores estudados, e temperaturas entre 29-32 °C combinad...

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Resumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes cores de aquários na larvicultura da piabanha-do-pardo (Brycon sp.). Os tratamentos consistiram na utilização de aquários de cores claras (branca, verde e azul) e escuras (marrom e preta). Ao final do experimento, foram mensurados a sobrevivência, o peso, o comprimento total e a coloração das larvas, que foram comparados pelo teste de Tukey, a 5% de probabilidade. A sobrevivência foi menor (66,25%), com maior taxa de canibalismo (17,08%), no aquário de cor azul, quando comparado ao aquário de cor marrom (84,17%), com baixa taxa de canibalismo (6,25%). O comprimento total, o peso e a mortalidade não diferiram entre os tratamentos. A coloração das larvas escureceu progressivamente dos aquários mais claros para os mais escuros, o que interferiu no canibalismo e na sobrevivência. O aquário marrom promove maior valor de sobrevivência e menor taxa de canibalismo nas larvas de piabanha-do-pardo.Termos para indexação: Brycon, canibalismo, coloração, mortalidade, pigmentação. Larviculture of piabanha-do-pardo in aquariums of different colorsAbstract -The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different colors of aquariums on the larviculture of piabanha-do-pardo (Brycon sp.). The treatments consisted of the use of light-(white, green, and blue) and dark-(brown and black) colored aquariums. At the end of the experiment, survival, weight, total length, and color of the larvae were measured and compared by the Tukey test, at 5% probability. Survival was lower (66.25%), with a higher rate of cannibalism (17.08%), in the blue-colored aquarium when compared to the brown-colored one (84.17%), with a low rate of cannibalism (6.25%). Total length, weight, and mortality did not differ among treatments. The color of the larvae gradually darkened from the lighter to the darker aquariums, which interfered with cannibalism and survival. The brown aquarium promotes a greater survival value and a lower rate of cannibalism in larvae of piabanha-do-pardo.

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