Temperature and feeding frequency: interactions with growth, immune response, and water quality in juvenile Nile tilapia.

Background: Water temperature and feeding frequency are critical abiotic factors regulating the growth and immune function of aquatic organisms. This study investigated the effects of water temperature and feeding frequency on growth and immune function in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) over two months. A total of 360 juvenile fish (average weight: 20.00 ± 1.26 g) were divided into six groups, each with three replicates, based on a combination of three water temperatures (26, 28, and 30 °C) and two feeding frequencies (either 1 or 2 meals per day).

Results: At 30 ºC and 28 ºC, water electrical conductivity and total dissolved salts increased, while total ammonia nitrogen and dissolved oxygen rose slightly in groups fed twice daily, with a significant interaction between temperature and feeding frequency. The group at 30 ºC with two meals per day showed the highest final body weight (FBW). The interaction between temperature and feeding frequency significantly influenced FBW, total feed intake, and body thickness. Fish at 30 ºC exhibited upregulated hepatic growth hormone receptor 1 and insulin-like growth factor 1, while those at 28 ºC with one meal per day, as well as those at 30 ºC regardless of meal frequency, also showed increased expression of hepatic fatty acid binding protein and intestinal cluster of differentiation 36. Fish at 30 ºC had upregulated leptin levels and downregulated cholecystokinin, while those at 26 ºC displayed the opposite trend, particularly with one meal daily. Higher temperatures significantly boosted serum IgM, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and lysozyme (LYZ) levels, with meal frequency also affecting malondialdehyde, IgM, and SOD levels. Additionally, 30 ºC enhanced the hepatic expression of mucin-like protein (muc), oligo-peptide transporter 1 (pept1), interleukin 1, nf-κB, complement C3, lyz, sod, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, with twice-daily meals having a more pronounced effect. Conversely, 28 ºC with one meal per day upregulated some of these genes, such as muc, pept1, and sod.

Conclusions: Overall, 30 ºC with two meals per day significantly improved the growth and health of juvenile Nile tilapia, while 28 ºC with two meals maintained satisfactory performance.