Transport of Pirarucu Arapaima gigas juveniles in plastic bag

Abstract

This study examined the stress response of pirarucu juveniles in a closed system transport. Pirarucu (Arapaima gigas) is a native Amazonian fish species from the Osteoglossidae family and an obligated air breather. A short duration transport trial (6h) was undertaken comparing closed polyethylene bags filled with atmospheric air (Air group) and bags filled with pure oxygen (Oxi group). Dissolved oxygen was the only water parameter that presented a difference between fish groups, and was saturated in the oxi group as expected. There was no mortality in either group after transport. Fish feeding was observed 36 h after transport for all fish, and normal feeding consumption was observed at 72 h. In both groups physiological responses were similar. Cortisol did not show any significant alteration during the sampled period. Unlike most fish species, cortisol values were unaltered in both groups during sampling, while glucose presented a significant change up to 12 h after transport. The results showed that pirarucu transport in plastic bags could be made with either atmospheric air or pure oxygen, since physiological response to stress, water quality and feeding behavior after 36 h were similar in both groups.

Stress in pacu exposed to ammonia in water

“…Information on ammonia levels in pacu farming is restricted to investigations in which total and non-ionized ammonia concentrations maintained themselves within amounts recommended for tropical fish (Urbinati et al, 2010). Behavior alterations or mortality were not reported during the experimental period in the present study, in contrast to that reported by Israeli-Weinstein & Kimmel (1998) for Cyprinus carpio exposed to sub-lethal ammonia concentrations. These authors verified that NH 4 Cl-treated fish ignored feeding and dive to the bottom of the tank, remaining there for a certain period of time.…”

“…At 48 hours the content of total ammonia returned to level which is adequate to the species (0.44 mg/L) due to the water renewal in the tanks, whereas the non-ionized ammonia levels were lower (approximately 0.004 mg/L) than the initial ones (0.04 mg/L), probably due to the decrease in pH. Stress caused by ammonia rise in the environment may increase disease incidence and mortality, impairs performance (Berka, 1986;Wendelaar Bonga, 1997), changes fish behavior (Israeli-Weinstein & Kimmel, 1998) and influences other stress indicators (Fivelstad et al, 1993). In fact, few studies have evaluated the effects of ammonia on Brazilian native species.…”

“…A high level of ammonia in the water reduces the excretion of plasma ammonia in fish, fosters the NH 3 absorption from the environment and increases body ammonia (Tomasso, 1994). The increase of ammonia in the blood (and of intracell pH) changes several physiological functions, altering fish behavior, decreasing its growth and survival (Israeli-Weinstein & Kimmel, 1998) and increasing fish susceptibility to diseases (Berka, 1986;Wendelaar Bonga, 1997). As a stressor, ammonia causes hormone, metabolic, ionic and hematological responses which are characteristic of the stress condition (Tomasso, 1994).…”

Biological indicators of stress in pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) after capture

“…However, little research has been done on native South American fishes. Among the Brazilian farmed fish, research on stress has been carried out on matrinxã (Brycon cephalus) (Günther, 1869) (Carneiro and Urbinati, 2001;Ide et al, 2003;Rocha et al, 2004;Urbinati et al, 2004), tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) (Cuvier, 1818) (Gomes et al, 2003a), pirarucu (Arapaimas gigas) (Schinz, 1822) (Gomes et al, 2003b) and jundiá (Randia quelen) (Quoy and Gaimard, 1824) (Barcellos et al, 2001). Despite pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) (Holmberg, 1887) being considered one of the most important native species (Queiroz et al, 2005) and studies on its reproduction (Romagosa et al, 1990), larviculture (Jomori et al, 2003), feeding and nutrition (Souza et al, 2000;Bechara et al, 2005;Abimorad et al, 2007) are available, there is sparse knowledge on the stress response of the species (Krieger et al, 1989;Martins et al, 2000;.…”

Transporte de juvenis de curimbatá Prochilodus lineatus em diferentes densidades

“…A preocupação com os efeitos do estresse na criação de espécies nativas resultou em pesquisas com o matrinxã, Brycon cephalus (CARNEIRO; CARNEIRO et al, 2002;URBINATI et al, 2004), o jundiá, Rhamdia quelen (BARCELLOS et al, 2001;BARCELLOS et al, 2004), o tambaqui, Colossoma macropomum (GOMES et al, 2003a;GOMES et al, 2006), o pirarucu, Arapaima gigas (GOMES et al, 2003b), o pintado, Pseudoplatystoma coruscans (FAGUNDES; URBINATI, 2008) entre outros. Entretanto, na literatura não foram encontrados estudos sobre práticas de transporte com curimbatá, Prochilodus lineatus.…”