Evaluation of the use of sodium chloride, eugenol, and zeolite in confinement of Ancistrus triradiatus

Abstract

The use of sodium chloride (1 and 2 g/L), eugenol (0.1 and 0.5 mg/L), and zeolite (clinoptilolite, 7 g/L for 12 h and 10 g/L for 48 h of confinement), and also mixtures of salt plus eugenol (1 g/L and 0.5 mg/L, respectively) and eugenol plus zeolite (0.5 mg/L and 7 or 10 g/L, respectively) were evaluated in the confinement of Ancistrus triradiatus for 12 and 48h. Water parameters as concentration of dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, conductivity, and concentrations of total ammonia, nonionized ammonia and nitrite were monitored. The blood glucose concentration was measured before the confinement started and at 0, 24, and 48 hours after the confinement period finished. A stress resistance test was conducted right after the confinement time was completed by exposing the fish to a hyperosmotic saline solution for one hour, recording the number of fish that maintained the swimming axis at intervals of 5 minutes. The mortality at the end of both confinement periods (12 and 48 hours), and its cumulative percentage rate during the following 7 days were also recorded. The use of sodium chloride 1 and 2 g/L in confinement times of 12 h, and 1 g/L in confinement time of 48 hours increased the resistance to confinement induced stress, and reduced mortality of the animals. The use of eugenol and zeolite did not improve the response to the stress, nor contribute to the reduction of mortality of the animals, while exposure to the mixtures of salt plus eugenol and eugenol plus zeolite increased the mortality so they are not recommended in the confinement of A. triradiatus.

Keywords: Clove oil; clinoptilolite; fish transport; Loricariidae; salt.