THE EFFECTS OF NITRITE ON THE SHORT-TERM GROWTH OF SILVER PERCH (BIDYANUS-BIDYANUS)

Growing interest in the pond culture of silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanu s) demands the determination of water quality parameters affecting pro duction. The effect of nitrite on the survival and growth of silver pe rch fingerlings was evaluated in a 25-day experiment. Survival was not affected by exposures up to 16.2 mg l(-1) NO2-N. Growth was reduced a t concentrations above 1.43 mg l(-1) NO2-N. The EC5 (the concentration at which growth is reduced by 5%) was estimated to be 2.78 mg l(-1) N O2-N. Changes in gill histopathology were observed in fish exposed to nitrite, relative to control fish, but the changes were not dose-depen dent or consistent among fish exposed to the same nitrite concentratio n. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V, All rights reserved.