Environmental coloring as a reproduction assistant and reducer of cannibalism in matrinxã

• Grant number: 98/03477-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research Partnership for Technological Innovation - PITE
• Start date: November 01, 1998
• End date: February 29, 2000
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Aquaculture
• Principal Investigator: Gilson Luiz Volpato
• Grantee: Gilson Luiz Volpato
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Company: Fish-Braz Comércio, Importação e Exportação Ltda
• City: Botucatu

Abstract

The matrinxã (Brycon cephalus) is one of the main species used in national fish farming, but its breeding still poses two fundamental problems: induction of spawning and the high index of cannibalism in the first days after the hatching of the larvae. As in previous studies, we observed that environmental coloring affects the aggression and the growth of this species, the present project was set up to use environmental coloration (green) to improve their production, as a way of improving the induced spawning of this species. Furthermore, it was sought to use environmental coloration (red/blue) to reduce aggression during the initial larvae period, thus reducing cannibalism. The results obtained provided clear answers regarding the use of these environmental colors in the production of fresh water sole. This process could certainly impact on the building of reproduction and incubating tanks, currently developed with colors chosen on the basis of criteria other than the animal’s response. (AU)