We assess the effects of the background color on the growth and antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in Nile tilapia (n=24; 36.2±3.6g). Eight fish were killed for assessment of basal activity of the enzymes and the others remained isolated for 14 days under white or blue light spectrum (n=8 fish/treatment). Then each animal were subjected to a daily stress of confinement of 90 minutes (15th to 28th day) and weighed to calculate the specific growth rate (SGR). The negative SGR confirmed that the confinement stressed in fish, regardless of the background color. The increased activity of LDH in red muscle of fish kept under white or blue light indicated replacement of aerobic metabolism to anaerobic. Stress reduced the CAT activity in white muscle of fish kept under white or light blue. In red muscle this reduction occurred only in animals kept under white light. Restraint causes increase in anaerobic metabolic processes and is suitable for studies on the effects of stress in tilapia. Confinement increases the anaerobic metabolic processes and is suitable for studies on the effects of stress. The blue spectrum of light does not prevent the reduction of growth and the anaerobic energetic demand in stressful situations, but preserves the CAT activity, contributing to the tilápia welfare.
confinement; growth; metabolism; Oreochromis niloticus; oxidative stress
