The use of salt in the transport water for pirarucu
juveniles, instead of protecting them from ion body loss,
obliged them to provide a fast osmoregulatory adaptation
to cope with an environment with higher salt
content. The lack of adaptation to this osmoregulatory
change may lead to death if the transport lasts for a
longer period of time, as was observed in silver catfish
(Rhamdia quelen): addition of salt in the transport water
(6g/L) increased Na+ body levels in this species and led
to death after 12h of transport (Gomes et al., 1999).