Effects of temperature on the growth, survival, and feed intake of Leiopotherapon plumbeus

Abstract

Leiopotherapon plumbeus, locally known as ayungin, is a small, edible fish with an average size of 15.9 cm that greatly
contributes to the rich biological diversity of freshwater bodies in the Philippines. However, its population has continuously
decreased due to various anthropogenic (overfishing and predation of invasive species) and environmental factors (land and
water pollution). One way to conserve the decreasing population is through aquaculture. This study investigated the effect of
temperature on the growth, mortality, and food intake of L. plumbeus under laboratory conditions for 21 days. Two hundred
twenty-five L. plumbeus fingerlings were reared in triplicate aquariums with varying temperatures of 20°C, 25°C, 28°C
(control), 30°C, and 35°C. The volume of feeds given to the fingerlings was based on 5% of their body weight. There were
no significant differences in percent growth by weight and length which signified that the temperatures were suitable for
the aquaculture of L. plumbeus. Greater food consumption was observed at higher temperatures. The tolerance of the fingerlings to
these temperatures could be used as information on designing or improving aquaculture protocol and/or practices. Also, the fish
could be a model species for studying the effects of climate change on their physiology.