Survival and the growth of pintado (Pseudoplatystoma corruscans) post-larvae on different salinities

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the survival and growth of pintado, Pseudoplatystoma corruscans, post-larvae (PL) submitted to seven salinities: S1: 0; S2: 1.7; S3: 3.3; S4: 5; S5: 6.7; S6: 8.3 and S7: 10‰ distributed in a complete randomized design with three replicates. PL were stocked in 5-l round plastic containers at a density of 15 PL/liter and maintained in the dark. The water was salinized with iodine-free sodium chloride (NaCl). PL were fed six times a day with 500 Artemia sp. nauplii/PL. Survival was high up to salinity 1.7‰, both on the fifth and on the tenth day of experiment, but decreased quickly in salinities above 5‰. Better growth rates were observed in salinities 0 and 1.7‰, however, high growth observed in freshwater was due to cannibalism. Results showed that pintado larviculture would be suitable in 1.7‰ salinity water.