Use of salt during the transportation of pirarucu juveniles (1kg) (Arapaima gigas)

Abstract

Pirarucu is a native fish of the Amazon basin, widely used in culture systems in some parts of Brazil. The objective of this work was to test table salt as a stress mitigator during transportation of pirarucu juveniles (1kg). Fish were transported by two different systems: boxes without addition of oxygen (open system) and closed oxygen filled plastic bags (closed system). To both systems fish were transported at three different treatments: control and two table salt concentration (3 and 6 g.L-1). After transportation, fish were stocked in ponds to monitor recovery. Metabolic (cortisol, glucose and lactate) and hematological (hematocrit) parameters were analyzed. The table salt was not efficient in mitigating stress response during the both tested transport system.