Effects of auditory stimuli on the swimming behavior of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): implications for aquaculture welfare management

This study investigates the effects of different music genres on the swimming behavior and stress responses of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), with implications for commercial aquaculture welfare management. Fish (mean weight: 45.3 ± 5.2 g, n = 75) were exposed to classical music (P1), rock music (P2), pop music (P3), electronic music (P4), and a control group (P5) for 30 minutes daily over four weeks. Swimming velocity (FSV), stationary time, and total distance traveled were measured using cost-effective computer vision techniques with Tracker software. Classical music induced the highest FSV (0.0199 ± 0.004 m.s⁻¹), representing a 90% increase compared to the control group (p < 0.001), while also promoting stable swimming patterns. Rock music caused the most erratic behavior, with a 45% increase in movement variability compared to the control (p < 0.01). Economic analysis revealed implementation costs of USD 50–100 per 1,000 m² pond, with a potential return on investment within six months due to reduced mortality (projected 10–15% improvement) and enhanced growth rates. Water quality parameters remained stable throughout the study (DO: 6.5 ± 0.3 mg/L, pH: 7.2 ± 0.2, temperature: 28 ± 1°C). These findings demonstrate that passive acoustic treatment using musical stimuli, particularly classical music, can offer a cost-effective and non-invasive stress management tool for intensive tilapia farming, potentially improving welfare standards and productivity in global aquaculture operations.