Effect of salinity on growth and survival in juvenile opossum pipefish, Microphis brachyurus, in culture conditions

Natural populations of the opossum pipefish, Microphis brachyurus, are affected in Mexico by anthropogenic alteration of their habitat and unregulated fishing as this species is traded as an aquarium fish without formal records as occurs with other syngnathids around the world. M. brachyurus is an estuarine fish adapted to salinity fluctuations. The aim of this study was to examine the effect on growth, condition, and survival of juvenile pipefish cultured for 4wk at salinities of 0, 8, and 16 g/L. Pipefish were fed enriched Artemia nauplii maintaining a ration rate of 14% body weight per day (dry weight Artemia: wet weight fish). Pipefish cultured at 16 g/L showed lower survival (40%) than those at 0 and 8 g/L (100 and 96%, respectively), while juveniles cultured in 8 and 16 g/L were heavier (0.393 and 0.388 g, respectively), longer (9.9 cm), and grew faster (1.4) than those in 0 g/L (0.294 g, 9.1 cm, and 0.44, respectively). This study is the first to report that a salinity of 16 g/L compromises M. brachyurus culture potential and a salinity of 0 g/L caused poor growth while the optimal salinity for the species appears to be around 8 g/L.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Martínez Cárdenas, Leonardo Doctor autor 15099, Valdez Hernández, Edna F. autora, González Díaz, Alfonso Ángel Doctor autor 8677, Soria Barreto, Miriam Doctora autora 13081, Castañeda Chávez, María R. autora, Lango Reynoso, Fabiola autora, Ruiz Velazco, Javier M. autor, Peña Messina, Emilio autor 14366
Format: Texto biblioteca
Language:eng
Subjects:Microphis brachyurus, Peces de acuario, Aguas salinas, Actividades antropogénicas,
Online Access:http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jwas.12142/pdf
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