Effect of ammonia on the survival of Zacco platypus (Temminck and Schlegel) at each developmental stage

The survival rates were studied of fertilized eggs, larvae, fry, and adults of pale chub Zacco platypus (Temminck and Schlegel) exposed to various concentrations of ammonia. There was a decrease in hatching rate and an increase in deformed alevins at a concentration of 0.9 mg liter−1 of ammonia. All alevins were deformed at a concentration of 1.6 mg liter−1 of ammonia and no eggs hatched at a concentration of 3.1 mg liter−1 of ammonia. No larvae survived for 84, 24 and 12 h at concentrations of 1.2, 2.0 and 4.7 mg liter−1 of ammonia, respectively. Eighty percent of the fry died after 168 h and no fry survived for 24 h at concentrations of 1.6 and 2.1 mg liter−1 of ammonia, respectively. Eighty percent of the adults died after 24 h and no adult survived for 12 h at concentrations of 1.0 and 1.9 mg liter−1, respectively. Larger adults were the most susceptible to ammonia. The order of resistance to ammonia was eggs, fry, larvae, and adults.