Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of stocking density associated with the swimming exercise on the stress responses of Brycon amazonicus. During 70 days, fish were subjected to three stocking densities: LD, low density of 88 fish per cubic meter; ID, intermediary density of 176 fish per cubic meter; and HD, high density of 353 fish per cubic meter. These densities were combined with static water (non-exercised group) or moderate-speed water (exercised group). Chronic stress was observed in HD, and plasma cortisol and glucose increased with the stocking densities. In HD, levels of plasma cortisol were significantly lower in exercised fish (135 ng mL-1) than in non-exercised ones (153 ng mL-1). The greatest hepatic glycogen... |