<b>Gastrointestinal passage time length and gastric emptying of pacu (<em>Piaractus mesopotamicus</em>) in different temperatures</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v27i3.1219

Abstract

The present work assessed the effect of the temperature on the feed ingestion (intake) by pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus), relating the feeding behavior to the gastric transit time (GTT) and gastric evacuation time (repletion index) (GET). Ninety-six fingerlings pacus with 160 g were placed in 150-liter experimental aquaria with continuous water flow. They were fed by a commercial floating feed (28% crude protein) in two water temperatures: 23 and 27^°C. GTT was significantly influenced by the water temperature, showing means values of 36h and 14h for 23 and 27^°C, respectively. GET was slower in fish maintained at the lowest temperature, where they reached the lowest repletion indices (0.36) in a period of time 166.67% faster (21h)