Effect of stocking density and temperature on two growth periods of juvenile Peruvian grunt Anisotremus scapularis (Perciformes: Haemulidae) in recirculating aquaculture systems

Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) are being used to maintain the development stages of the Peruvian grunt Anisotremus scapularis. In this sense, the stocking density and temperature factors were evaluated in two growth periods, as well as their influence on the growth, feeding, survival and well-being of the juveniles, to use the maximum potential of the RAS. Three stocking density (low D1, medium D2 and high D3) and two temperatures (20 +/- 1 degrees C and 24 +/- 1 degrees C) were tested. The experiment was carried out in two periods (6 and 28 g). In each of the treatments, specific growth rate (SGR), thermal growth coefficient (TGC), coefficient of variation (CV), feed conversion rate (FCR), feeding rate (FR), condition factor (K) and survival were calculated. The treatment with the best results in the first period was the density D3 and the temperature of 24 degrees C, reaching a final density of 15.6 kg.m(-3), SGR: 2% dia(-1), TGC: 0.5, CV: 15.4%,FCR: 1.2, FR: 2.8% and K: 2. In the second period, the best treatment was the density D3 and the temperature of 20 degrees C, reaching afinal density of 11.4 kg.m(-3), SGR: 1.5% dia(-1), TGC: 0.2, CV: 15.2, FCR: 2.3, FR: 2.8% and K: 2.3. Survival for all treatments was 100% in both periods. Therefore, the best performance in terms of growth, feeding and well-being of juvenile Peruvian grunt in the two periods of development was obtained at the highest densities (5.3 and 5 kg.m(-3)) and at a temperature of 24 degrees C in 6 g juveniles and 20 degrees C in 28 g juveniles under laboratory conditions.