The influence of water temperature on laboratory-reared lake minnow Eupallasella perenurus (Pallas) larvae and juveniles

Abstract

The growth, condition and survival of live food-fed larvae and starter-fed early juveniles of the critically endangered cyprinid Eupallasella perenurus (Pallas) were evaluated in two laboratory experiments at 19, 22, 25, and 28°C. Temperature significantly (P Ł 0.05) influenced the growth of larvae, with the maximum final values recorded at 25°C (25.8 mm mean total length, TL; 239 mg mean body weight, BW). No significant differences in the final juvenile fish size were found within the temperature range of 19-25°C (37.6-38.4 mm TL; 901-968 mg BW), whereas those at 28°C grew slower (34.6 mm TL; 819 mg BW). The final condition coefficient values tended to significantly increase along with water temperature. Final survival rates were 96.5-100%, except for juveniles at 28°C (28.3%). All of the present results indicate that the most advantageous temperature conditions for E. perenurus controlled rearing would be 25 and 22°C for larvae and juveniles, respectively.

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:

Dr Jacek Wolnicki, Instytut Rybactwa Śródlądowego, Zakład Rybactwa Stawowego, Żabieniec, 05-500 Piaseczno, tel./fax: +48 22 7562044; e-mail: jawol@infish.com.pl