Effect of temperature, stocking density and fish size on the ammonia excretion in palmetto bass (Morone saxatilis×M. chrysops)

Three temperature levels (18, 23 and 28 °C), three stocking density levels (0.72, 1.42 and 2.84 kg m−3) and two sizes of groups (averaging 104 and 173 g respectively) were used to conduct experiments on the effect of temperature, stocking density and fish size on the ammonia excretion (AE) of palmetto bass (Morone saxatilis×M. chrysops). The AE increased with the increase in temperatures by a significant degree (P<0.05) among different temperature groups. There appeared to be a tendency towards increase of the AE with increased stocking densities, and significant differences (P<0.05) were found among stocking groups. The AE of smaller size-group was significantly higher than that of the larger size-group. Diurnal variation of AE in palmetto bass showed that the AE rose greatly to reach a peak at about 4 h after feeding, and to the lowest values at about 24 h post feeding in all of the experimental groups.