Comparative impact assessment of varying salinity concentration on growth, survival and blood chemistry of tilapia fingerlings

Abstract

We designed this investigation to compare the impact of varying salinity levels on growth, survival, and blood chemistry of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings. Furthermore, we try to provide a comparative account of our and previous findings conducted in other parts of the world on different fish species. One hundred and eighty tilapia fingerlings with an average initial weight of 11.6+3.42g were procured and acclimatized in laboratory conditions and transferred to twelve different aquaria sub-divided into four different salinity treatments viz. T₀ (0 ppt), T₁ (6 ppt), T₂ (10 ppt) and T₃ (14 ppt). Results revealed that certain water quality parameters (conductivity, Na, Cl, Bicarbonates, and total dissolved solids) significantly changed (P<0.05) with the increasing salinity. The maximum weight and length gain and FCR were recorded as 15.11+ 2.80g, 5.06+0.43cm, and 2.61 + 0.92 in T3, respectively. However, the survival rate was recorded as 100% in all treatments, indicating higher salinity tolerance in tilapia fingerlings. Blood chemical analyses revealed significant differences (P<0.05) among white blood cells (WBCs), red blood cells (RBCs), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and platelets in all treatments, with the highest records in T3. In conclusion, our outcomes suggested that Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings could survive at higher salinity levels (14ppt) with better growth performance and improved blood chemistry factors. This investigation supports a potentially succeeding aquaculture of tilapia in moderately saline water bodies.