Acclimation of Anabas testudineus (Bloch) to three test temperatures influences thermal tolerance and oxygen consumption

Teleost fish have developed their own specific adaptive mechanism, both behavioral and physiological, to maintain homeostasis in response to unfavorable temperatures. Therefore, this study was aimed at assessing the critical thermal maxima (CTMax), critical thermal minima (CTMin), and oxygen consumption rate of Anabas testudineus (17.03 +/- A 1.2 g) after acclimating to three preset temperatures (25, 30, and 35A degrees C) for 30 days. The CTMax and CTMin were 40.15, 41.40, 41.88A degrees C and 12.43, 13.06, 13.94A degrees C, respectively, and were significantly different (P < 0.05). The thermal tolerance polygon for the specified temperatures was 278.30A degrees C-2. The oxygen consumption rate (117.03, 125.70, 198.48 mg O-2 kg(-1) h(-1), respectively) increased significantly (P < 0.05) with increasing acclimation temperatures. The overall results indicate that the thermal tolerance and oxygen consumption of A. testudineus are dependent on acclimation.