Influence of temperature and stocking density during rearing on larval blue bream, Ballerus ballerus (L.)

Abstract

This study determined the effects of stocking density and water temperature on the rearing parameters and survival of larval blue bream under controlled conditions. Two experimental larval blue bream rearing variants were conducted. In the first experiment, larval blue bream were reared at different stocking densities of 20, 40, 80, and 120 indiv. dm^-3 at 25°C. In the second experiment, larvae were reared in water at 15, 20, 25, and 30°C at a stocking density of 40 individuals per dm³. The larval blue bream achieved the highest growth rate at the lowest density tested (20 indiv. dm^-3; 69.4 mg at an average length of 26.8 mm) and at the highest temperature tested (30°C; 80.1 mg at an average length of 28.4 mm). The final larval survival rate during rearing at different temperatures ranged from 95.2 to 97.6%, while the final larval survival rate at different stocking densities ranged from 91.4 to 94.6%. The lowest growth and survival rates were recorded for larvae reared in water at 15°C and at a density of 120 indiv. dm^-3.