The effect of temperature and pH on the growth and physiological response of juvenile yellowtail kingfish Seriola lalandi in recirculating aquaculture systems

A search for a viable new fish species for culture in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) in the Netherlands identified yellowtail kingfish Seriola lalandi as having excellent potential. To assist in determining the most appropriate water quality conditions for this species in RAS, the effect of water temperature (21, 23.5, 25, 26.5 and 29 °C) and pH (6.58, 7.16 and 7.85) was tested in two separate experiments. Growth performance, feed conversion, stress-physiological and metabolic parameters were assessed in juvenile yellowtail kingfish grown in pilot-scale RAS. Growth was optimised at a water temperature of 26.5 °C, in combination with maximum food intake and optimum food conversion ratio (FCR). Increasing temperature from 21 °C to 26.5 °C resulted in a 54% increase in the fish's final weight after 30 days. A water pH of 6.58 resulted in mortality and inhibited both growth and FCR due to physiological disruptions to which the fish could not adapt.