Fish Maintenance
The present study was performed at the aquatic physiology laboratory of the American University of Beirut (AUB), Lebanon (August 2020- October 2020). Animal welfare and use protocols were approved by the IRB at the university. Data can be obtained from the author upon demand. Nile tilapia used in the present experiment were spawned in outdoor 1 m3 circular tanks in a recirculation aquaculture system. Swim-up fry were collected, stocked in 180-L fiberglass tanks of a recirculation system, and sex-reversed using α- methyl testosterone in the feed. Sex-reversed fry were then transferred to the outdoors recirculation system and offered a 40% crude protein, 6% lipid commercial feed (Rangen Inc., Buhl, Idaho, USA) twice daily to apparent satiation, until used in the experiment.