Hematological studies on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) under the influence of ammonia

An experiment was conducted to determine the influence of different sub-lethal ammonia concentrations on hematological factors of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) during fourteen days exposure along with growth performance. Three aquaria were established as control, T1 and T2 tested with 0, 2 and 6 mg/l NH4CI as an ammonia source with three replicates. Feed was given daily with respect to body weight at rate of 7% with regular siphoning. Each aquarium was stocked with 10 fishes. Ammonium chloride solutions were given as ammonia stock solution. Fish growth factors, body weight and total length were enumerated every week. At the end of trial blood samples were collected and kept in eppendorf tubes having EDTA in order to analyze hematological response of Nile tilapia against ammonia. The total gain in length of tilapia in control, T1 and T2 was remained as1.34cm, 0.65cm and 0.43cm respectively. The total gain in weight of tilapia in control, T1 and T2, was remained as 1.89g, 1.43g and 0.81g respectively. The physico-chemical factors like water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, electrical conductivity and total hardness were assessed during studies. The physico-chemical parameters remained as water temperature 26.7, 27.5 and 28.0 degree C, dissolved oxygen 3.35, 3.45 and 3.50mg/L, pH 7.98, 8.97 and 8.91, electrical conductivity 3.80, 3.72 and 3.36mS/cm and total hardness 456.8, 484.8 and 485.60mg/L were analyzed in control, T1 and T2 respectively. The following blood parameters were studied and their values counted as WBCs minimum in T1 counted as 6.70x10-3 muL-1, maximum in T2 counted as 47.80x10-3 muL-1, RBCs minimum in T1 counted as 0.06x10-6 muL-1, maximum in T2 counted as 0.61x10-6 muL-1, HGB minimum in T1 and T2 counted as 0.80 gdL-1, 1.70 gdL-1, respectively, HCT minimum in T1 counted as 0.38 %, maximum in T2 counted as 3.30 %, MCV maximum in T1 and T2 counted as 102.60 fL, 111.30 fL respectively, MCH, MCHC and PLT values decrease in T1 and T2.