Effects of Temperature Shock on the Hematological Indices of Blackchin Tilapia Sarotherodon melanotheron (R?ppel, 1853) Reared in Seawater

Farming of tilapia in estuarine is usually accompanied by a fluctuating temperature. Thus, mix sexes of blackchin tilapia S. melanotheron [11.86 ± 1.47 cm TL& 28.75 ± 9.65 g W. ] were subjected to three different levels of temperatures [TI (28oC), TII (32oC) and TIII (35oC)] for 24 hrs in seawater condition. Their physiological responses were determined through the following indices in blood: glucose, cholesterol, hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cells (RBCs) count, white blood cells (WBCs) count, platelet count, total plasma protein (TPP), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT). Results showed that cholesterol, hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cells, white bloods cells, total plasma protein (TPP), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) were not affected by increasing temperature except blood glucose (pless than0.05). These suggest that glucose utilization is a coping mechanism of blackchin tilapia in adapting seawater condition with a fluctuating temperature.