The Effect of Gradual Acclimatization to Different Salinity Levels on Growth and Survival Rate of Cultured Cyprinus carpio

Abstract

This study describes the gradual acclimation of 90 Cyprinus carpio individuals to different levels of salinity (≤0.5, 3, 6, 9 and 12ppt) for 46 days during the period  2February-21March  2022 , and its effect on the growth and survival rate. The juveniles (15.92±1.50 g, 13.25±1.2cm) were brought from Al-Sen Research Center of the General Establishment of Fisheries in Jableh and then transferred directly to the Marine Science Laboratory at the Faculty of Agriculture- Latakia University, kept in fresh water for two weeks for acclimatization, then  fed a diet of 35%protein. The survival rate of  juveniles was 100%  at ≤0.5, 3, 6, 9 and 12ppt salinities respectively. the fish remained alive for 17 and 9 hours at 15ppt and 18ppt, but only lived for five minutes at 24ppt. The survival rate was significantly higher in lower salinities than other acclimation salinities.