Physico-chemical parameters of water and bacteriological analysis of ornamental fish in private aquariums in Havana, Cuba

In Cuba, the cultivation of ornamental fish is a very incipient sector, mostly centralized by private producers. This constitutes a gap for the control of possible disease outbreaks in culture systems. The main objective of this work was to determine physical-chemical parameters of water and bacteria present in ornamental fish in private aquariums in Havana, Cuba. The following species were analyzed: Danio rerio (Zebra danio), Carassius auratus (Goldfish), Pterophyllum scalare (Freshwater angelfish), Xiphophorus maculatus (Southern platyfish) and Poecilia sphenops (Molly). Bacteriological analyses were carried out on these species and physicochemical tests on the culture water. Aeromonas sp. was the most isolated genus, with a frequency of 65%. To a lesser extent, species of the genus Pseudomas sp. (10%) and enterobacteria (15%) were isolated. The nitrite and phosphorus values ​​were above the reference limits Potentially pathogenic species of Aeromonas sp. and from the family Enterobacteriaceae were obtained from apparently healthy ornamental fish. In most of the aquariums the concentration of nitrites and inorganic phosphorus were in a condition that may be unfavorable for fish due to the increase in plankton density and toxicity. The pH, total hardness and calcium values maintained ​​within the reference range, while alkalinity tended to exceed the permitted limit.

• Main Author: Garcia Mesa, Lirialis (author)
• Other Authors: Silveira Coffigny, Raquel (author), Pozo Escobar , Maylee (author), Ponte Betancourt, Sheila (author), Hill Esquibel , Yanelys (author)
• Format: article
• Language: spa
• Published: 2024
• Subjects: aeromonas sp.; enterobacteria; calidad del agua; piscicultura; patógenos; pathogens; water quality; fish culture
• Online Access: https://revistas.utm.edu.ec/index.php/aquatechnica/article/view/6799