The effects of rearing temperature on American glass eels

Agricultural Sciences
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Abstract

American eels are declining throughout their range requiring a better understanding of physiological requirements of all life stages and optimal conditions for laboratory rearing and aquaculture. American glass eels (Anguilla rostrata) were housed for 3 weeks at 14˚C, 18˚C, 22˚C, or 26˚C to determine optimal juvenile rearing temperature in the laboratory. All treatments exhibited weight gain over the course of the study except the 14˚C treatment; however, there were only marginal differences in final weight between the 18˚C and 14˚C treatments and no differences in length. Variation in length and weight generally increased as temperature increased with significant differences in the standard error of weight between 14˚C and the 22˚C and 26˚C treatments and between 18˚C and 26˚C. Mortality was significantly greater than expected by chance at 26˚C (7 deaths) and no mortality was observed at 14˚C. Body condition (based on the residuals from the weight-length relationships), conversely, was lowest in the 14˚C treatment. Considering all response variables, optimal laboratory rearing conditions were observed between 18˚C - 22˚C. Within a week of experimentation, evidence of gas bubble disease was observed and by completion noted in all treatments except at 14˚C, likely as a function of decreased gas solubility at warmer temperatures. Levels of total gas pressure (103% - 108%) and Δp (28 - 54 mm Hg) values may account for the gas bubbles observed.

Suggested Citation

Blakeslee, C.J., Galbraith, H.S., Deems, R.M., 2018, The effects of rearing temperature on American glass eels: Agricultural Sciences, v. 9, no. 8, p. 1070-1084, https://doi.org/10.4236/as.2018.98074.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title The effects of rearing temperature on American glass eels
Series title Agricultural Sciences
DOI 10.4236/as.2018.98074
Volume 9
Issue 8
Year Published 2018
Language English
Publisher SCIRP
Contributing office(s) Leetown Science Center
Description Article ID:87049; 15 p.
First page 1070
Last page 1084
Additional publication details