DETERMINATION OF THE UPPER AND LOWER CRITICAL LIMIT OF TEMPERATURE IN BETTA SPLENDENS (REGAN, 1910) LARVICULTURE

Modern fish farming is characterized by a better breeding system, environmental quality and superior productivity. The objective of this work was to determine the upper and lower temperature limits in the betta (Betta Splendens) larviculture. Three experimental cycles were performed, repeated over time, using eight temperature levels 20, 23, 25, 28, 33, 34, 35, and 37 °C. The results obtained with the first experiment show post-larvae survival of 20% at 20 ºC, 51% at 28 ºC and total mortality at 37 ºC. For the second experiment, there was a survival rate of 37% at 23 °C, 60% at 28 °C, 55% at 33 °C and total mortality at 35 °C. With the third experiment, 62% survival was obtained at 25 ºC, 64% at 28 ºC and 3% at 34 ºC. Therefore, the lower temperature limit for the creation of Betta splendens is 20 ºC and the upper 34 °C, being the ideal range for breeding with survival above 50%, the ranges of 25 and 33 ºC.