Effect of stocking density in plastic boxes without oxygenation on the transport of pirarucu, Arapaima gigas (Schinz, 1822)

• Published in: Journal of the World Aquaculture Society Vol. 53; no. 5; pp. 1031 - 1041
• Main Authors: Santos, Marcel J. M., Magalhães, Francisco O., Manhães, João V., Soares, Itamar J., Silva, Adenilson G., Ramos, Ana P., Schorer, Marianne, Braga, Luis G. T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.10.2022; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: Amazon fish; Aquaculture; Arapaima gigas; Blood; Boxes; challenge; Density; Fish; Glucose; Hematocrit; hematological parameters; Hormones; Juveniles; Lactate; Lactic acid; Open systems; Oxygenation; Physiology; Plastics; Stocking density; stress management; Survival; Tanks; Transport
• ISSN: 0893-8849; 1749-7345
• DOI: 10.1111/jwas.12925

For the evaluation of the effects of the transport density of pirarucu juveniles, 210 juvenile pirarucus, Arapaima gigas (488 ± 26.5 g) were randomly distributed in 12 plastic boxes at transport densities of 98, 146, 195, and 244 g L−1. The transport was carried out on a paved highway for 4 h, and at the end of the transport, all were returned to the laboratory. After transport (AT), 8 fish from each experimental unit were transferred to 12 tanks (250 L) for the final samplings. Blood was sampled at three different times: immediately a AT, 24, and 48 h after transportation. The survival and hematocrit, cortisol, glucose, and lactate were measured. The results showed significant differences (p < 0.05) for all blood parameters, and there was no mortality throughout the experiment. At the end of the analysis, pirarucus were able to be transported at a density of 244 g L−1 for up to 4 h in open systems without oxygenation, recovering from stress until 48 h AT.