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Dietary Cholesterol and Aggression in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus
  • Patrick Saoud,
  • Razan ZeinEddine,
  • Magida Tabbara
Patrick Saoud
American University of Beirut Department of Biology

Corresponding Author:is08@aub.edu.lb

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Razan ZeinEddine
American University of Beirut Department of Biology
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Magida Tabbara
Auburn University School of Fisheries Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences
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Abstract

Tilapia farmers would benefit tremendously if they could decrease aggression among fish. Conspecific aggression affects growth, feed conversion and general wellbeing of fish. Previous studies established an inverse relationship between blood cholesterol levels and aggression in fish, whereby a decrease in cholesterol led to an increase in aggression. The present study assessed the effect of an increase of dietary cholesterol on blood cholesterol and possible decrease in aggression of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. Nile tilapia were stocked in an outdoor recirculation system then offered one of five diets: 0% cholesterol, 0.5% cholesterol, 1% cholesterol, 1.5% cholesterol and 2% cholesterol. Five fish of each treatment were moved to a glass tank and monitored for signs of aggression for 10 minutes, twice a day. This experimental procedure was repeated five times using a new set of fish every time. Results show an increase in cholesterol levels in the blood but that there are no significant differences in aggression among treatments. Accordingly, the present study suggests that an increase in dietary cholesterol increases blood cholesterol in fish but does not have a significant effect on antagonistic patterns in Nile tilapia.
08 Sep 2023Submitted to Applied Research
08 Sep 2023Submission Checks Completed
08 Sep 2023Assigned to Editor
29 Sep 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
02 Oct 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
02 Oct 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Major
14 Oct 20231st Revision Received
20 Oct 2023Submission Checks Completed
20 Oct 2023Assigned to Editor
20 Oct 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
06 Nov 2023Editorial Decision: Accept