Abstract
The impact of rearing silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix to the fingerling stage under three different stocking densities was investigated depending on the hematological and biochemical parameters as indicators of general health state of fish. The present study was carried out for 12 weeks to determine the most optimum stocking density for rearing silver carp. Fish were cultured in duplicates of cement ponds under stocking densities of 3, 6 and 9 fish/m(3) as T-1, T-2 and T-3 respectively. The ponds were fertilized weekly with organic fertilizer at rate of 50 g/m(3). Results of hematological analyses showed significant increase in T-1 for values of RBCs count, hemoglobin, hematocrit and mean corpuscle volume (MCV) while the lowest values were recorded in T-3 for all these parameters. Changing the stocking density had non-significant effect on values of WBCs count, mean corpuscle hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscle hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Plasma biochemical analyses showed that increasing the stocking density caused significant increase in values of plasma glucose, total protein, albumin (A) and globulin (G) associated with significant decrease in values of cholesterol and triglycerides. The highest values of A/G ratio were recorded non-significantly in T-1 and T-3 while the lowest values were recorded significantly in T-2. Meanwhile T-1 showed a significant decrease in values of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and uric acid. Values of creatinine showed non-significant increase among treatments. The findings suggest that the most optimum condition was detected in T-1 (3 fish/m(3)) where most of the studied hematological and biochemical parameters were essentially normal and within the range consistent with good fish health. [Salah M. Kamal and Wael A. Omar Effect of Different Stocking Densities on Hematological and Biochemical Parameters of Silver Carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix Fingerlings] Life Science Journal, 2011; 8(4): 580-586] (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com.