Oxidative responses in small juveniles of Colossoma macropomum anesthetized and sedated with Ocimum gratissimum L. essential oil.

This study evaluated the use of essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum (EOOG) for anesthesia and in transport of Colossoma macropomum. Experiment 1, Test 1, anesthesia induction and recovery times were determined using different EOOG concentrations (0, 20, 50, 100, 200, 300 mg L-1), with two size classes: Juveniles I (0.86 g) and Juveniles II (11.46 g) (independent tests in a completely randomized design). Based on the results of Test 1, in Test 2 Juveniles II were exposed to EOOG concentrations: 0, 20, 100 mg L-1. Tissue samples were collected immediately after induction and 1 h post-recovery, to assess oxidative status variables. Experiment 2, Juveniles I (0.91 g) and Juveniles II (14.76 g) were submitted to transport in water with different concentrations of EOOG (0, 5, 10 mg L-1) (independent tests in a completely randomized design). The effects on oxidative status variables were evaluated. Concentrations between 50 and 200 mg L-1 EOOG can be indicated for Juveniles I, while concentrations between 50 and 100 mg L-1 EOOG for Juveniles II. The concentration of 100 mg L-1 EOOG was able to prevent oxidative damage in the liver. In Experiment 2, the concentrations of 5 and 10 mg L-1 EOOG added to the transport water caused sedation for both studied size classes of juveniles and did not cause oscillations in water quality variables nor any mortality. The concentration of 10 mg L-1 EOOG improved the oxidative status. It can be concluded that EOOG can be used for anesthesia and transport of C. macropomum.

Rearing and maturation of Lophiosilurus alexandri (Steindachner, 1876) in controlled conditions: First reports and future perspective.

Lophiosilurus alexandri is a freshwater carnivorous fish for which there is fishing pressure in its natural environment, yet the species has potential for captive rearing. Information on growth and sexual development for the species is scarce, and age and size at first maturation have yet to be determined. A total of 400 fish, therefore, were reared from hatching to 968 days after hatching (DAH). Fish gonads were histologically analyzed throughout the rearing period, and growth, the hepatosomatic index and the gonadosomatic index were compared between males and females. Estradiol, testosterone and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone concentrations were quantified at 845 and 968 DAH to compare sexually mature males and females. Weight and length did not differ between males and females (P >  0.05). Males were sexually mature at 593 DAH, with body lengths of 29.88 ±â€¯1.76 cm and weights of 444.1 ±â€¯77.03 g, while females were sexually mature at 845 DAH, with lengths of 36.51 ±â€¯1.06 cm and body weights of 783.05 ±â€¯48.57 g. The results provided important information regarding the minimum capture size of L. alexandri for identifying the appropriate period to begin reproductive management of the species.

The effect of water temperature on muscle cellularity and gill tissue of larval and juvenile Lophiosilurus alexandri, a Neotropical freshwater fish.

The effect of temperature on muscle development and gill tissue were investigated in larval and juvenile of Lophiosilurus alexandri, a carnivorous Neotropical fish species. Larvae and juveniles were reared at temperatures of 23, 26, 29 and 32 °C for 15 and 35 days, respectively. The larvae were fed Artemia nauplii, while the juveniles received a formulated diet. In both stages, high temperatures resulted in increased fiber diameter of white muscle. Moreover, a pronounced effect of hypertrophy was observed in later stages of development. No alterations to minimum fiber diameter, and similar mosaic standards of muscle growth dynamics, were observed in larvae kept at 23-32 °C, suggesting that hyperplasia was not effected during early stages of development. Gills were analyzed by Degree of Tissue Change (DTC), which is based on the severity of lesions. Significant morphological changes were observed in gills when juveniles were kept at 32 °C, which was considered moderate tissue damage. Temperature modulates cellularity in L. alexandri larvae and juveniles, with pronounced alterations of hypertrophy of white muscle fibers in later stages of development when exposed to elevated temperatures. Higher temperatures may also induce muscle growth dynamics with increased recruitment of new white fiber, increased fiber diameter in the early stages and induced gill lesions.

Early sexing techniques in Lophiosilurus alexandri (Steindachner, 1876), a freshwater carnivorous catfish.

This study aimed to evaluate sexing techniques for juvenile Lophiosilurus alexandri. With this aim, we evaluated three techniques: coelioscopy, performed with the use of video surgery equipment; coeliotomy, a surgical procedure for direct visualization of the gonads; and sex determination using a urethral probe to compare the genital papillae. For coelioscopy, the survival rate was 100% 30 days after the procedure, and the fish restarted eating 10 days after surgery. This technique resulted in a 100% correct identification of individuals identified as females, whereas for males, it was 66.6%. There was no significant difference between males and females for anesthesia induction and recovery times. However, the procedure took longer for males because of the difficulty in observing the gonads, which can be attributed to the large amount of visceral fat in males. Coeliotomy also resulted in a 100% survival rate 30 days after surgery, and the efficiency of this technique was 96.3% for males and 93.9% for females. The fish restarted eating between 10 and 14 days after surgery, and there were no significant differences between males and females for anesthesia induction and recovery times for the surgical procedure to visualize the gonads (P > 0.05). The urethral probe technique was less efficient with an accuracy rate of 67.8% and 81.8% for males and females, respectively. We conclude that coeliotomy was more efficient for sexing both sexes of juvenile L. alexandri.

Capture, adaptation and artificial control of reproduction of Lophiosilurus alexandri: A carnivorous freshwater species.

The present study describes the capture adaptation and reproduction of wild Lophiosilurus alexandri broodstock in laboratory conditions. There were two periods when capturing was performed in natural habitats. The animals were placed in four tanks of 5m(3) with water temperatures at 28°C with two tanks having sand bottoms. Thirty days after the temperature increased (during the winter) the first spawning occurred naturally, but only in tanks with sand on the bottom. During the breeding season, there were 24 spawning bouts with egg mass collections occurring as a result of the spawning bouts that occurred in the tanks. The hatching rates for eggs varied from 0% to 95%. The spawning bouts were mainly at night and on weekends. In the second reproductive period, the animals were sexed by cannulation and distributed in four tanks with all animals being maintained in tanks with sand on the bottom at 28°C. During this phase, there were 36 spawning bouts. Findings in the present study contribute to the understanding of the reproductive biology of this endangered species during captivity.