Effects of ammonia on juvenile silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus)

Abstract Continued development of commercial pond culture of silver perch ( Bidyanus bidyanus ) depends on determining concentrations of water quality variables that limit production. The effect of ammonia on the short-term growth of juvenile silver perch was evaluated in a 39-day experiment. Survival was not significantly affected by exposures up to 0.36 mg l −1 un-ionised ammonia–nitrogen (UAN), the highest concentration tested in this study. Growth was reduced at 0.36 mg l −1 UAN. The EC 5 (the concentration at which growth is reduced by 5%) was estimated to be 0.06 mg l −1 UAN. Some changes in gill histopathology were observed in fish exposed to ammonia.