Evaluation of Three Feeds for Hatchery Rearing Channel Catfish Fry

Two 7 day feeding trials were conducted with channel catfish swim-up fry to evaluate growth, feed conversion ratio, and body composition of fish fed one of the following feeds: salmon starter, catfish starter, or trout starter. Fish fed the salmon or trout starter feeds gained 50–75% more weight, converted feed more efficiently, and had higher body fat stores than fish fed the catfish starter feed. This may be related to the higher protein and energy content of these two feeds. It may be advantageous to feed salmonid starter feeds to hatchery reared catfish fry; however, it is not known whether or not the improved performance observed in the hatchery continues once the fish are stocked into nursery and grow out ponds.     

Factors Affecting Metabolism of Commercial Channel Catfish Ponds as Indicated by Continuous Dissolved Oxygen Measurement1

Continuous dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements were analyzed to evaluate the rates of pond metabolic processes related to productivity and respiration in three commercial catfish ponds in northwest Mississippi. Multiple regression models were constructed to assess the relative importance of various forcing functions on indices of net primary productivity (NPP) and whole pond respiration (WPR), duration of automated aeration, and DO concentration below various threshold values. Water temperature, solar radiation, wind run, cumulative feed, and lagged values of these parameters were considered as forcing functions. Generally, NPP and WPR were most strongly affected by water temperature and only weakly related to solar radiation. The duration of nightly aeration was also strongly related to water temperature, although 10-d cumulative feed was an important predictor in one pond. The best predictors of duration of DO below certain threshold values were NPP, WPR and wind run, the importance of which varied depending upon the pond and the threshold value considered. Change in feeding rate from one day to the next was inversely related to feeding rate on the previous day. The results of this analysis suggest that NPP and WPR rates, and the duration of required nightly aeration in commercial catfish ponds are controlled by factors not amenable to practical management control.     

Environmental Conditions and Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus Production under Similar Pond Management Regimes in Alabama and Mississippi

This study was conducted to compare water quality and channel catfish production in earthen ponds located in two dissimilar physiographic regions of the southeastern United States and supplied with water of disparate quality. Ponds at Auburn, Alabama are on acidic Piedmont soils and filled with poorly mineralized runoff water; ponds at Stoneville, Mississippi are on slightly alkaline alluvial clays and filled with groundwater of high total alkalinity and hardness. Channel catfish were stocked at 8,750 fish/ha, fed daily, and provided nightly aeration in 0.04-ha ponds at both sites. Ponds were managed as similarly as possible. Minimum daily water temperatures and pH were higher at Stoneville than at Auburn, and there were greater concentrations of suspended clay turbidity, dissolved inorganic phosphorus, total ammonia-nitrogen, and nitrite-nitrogen at Auburn than at Stoneville. The taxonomic composition of the phytoplankton community was broadly different between the two sites. Taste tests revealed off-flavor in fish at both sites, but there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in flavor scores between sites. The quality of flavor was somewhat different between sites, and these differences in quality were thought to result from observed differences in the taxonomic composition of phytoplankton communities. All differences in water quality seemed to be directly or indirectly related to the dissimilarity in the quality of the water supply and soils at the two locations. Although some water quality variables differed between sites and changed over time at both sites, environmental conditions never deteriorated enough at either site to cause serious stress or mortality in fish. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in average net fish production, survival, weight of individual fish at harvest, or feed conversion ratios. Average net fish production and feed conversion ratios, respectively, were 4,905 kg/ha and 1.27 at Auburn and 5,286 kg/ha and 1.27 at Stoneville. The results of this study demonstrate the need for site-specific investigations when conducting certain types of aquaculture research.     

An evaluation of three paddlewheel aerators used for emergency aeration of channel catfish ponds

Oxygen transfer rate, power requirement and fuel consumption were determined for three paddlewheel aerators used for emergency aeration of channel catfish ponds. The power requirement of the tractor-powered units was directly related to the diameter of the paddlewheel drum and the paddle immersion depth. Oxygen transfer rates ranged from 6·9 to 41 kg h^?1 and increased linearly with the power requirement. The largest paddlewheel aerator, operated at the maximum paddle depth, produced the highest oxygen transfer rate (41 kg h^?1). Oxygen transfer efficiencies ranged from 1·29 to 1·97 kg kWh^?1.     

Hatch rate of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque 1818) eggs treated with 100 mg L−1 copper sulphate pentahydrate

Catfish hatcheries use copper sulphate pentahydrate (CuSO₄·5H₂O) as an economical control for saprolegniasis on eggs. This study determines hatch rate of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque 1818), eggs in hatching troughs containing 23.8 °C flow‐through well water when treated with 100 mg L^?1 CuSO₄·5H₂O (10 times the proposed therapeutic dose). Eggs were treated daily until the embryos reached the eyed stage. Fry survival in the control and 100 mg L^?1 CuSO₄·5H₂O treatments was significantly different (15% and 71% respectively). This study demonstrates that there is a considerable margin of safety in using CuSO₄·5H₂O as a catfish egg treatment to control saprolegniasis.     

An Evaluation of a Leuteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone Analog to Induce Spawning of Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus

The leuteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) analog, DAla⁶DesGly¹⁰ LH-RH-ethyl amide, delivered by intraperitoneal or intracranial injection was an effective agent for the induced spawning of channel catfish ( Icrulurus punctatus ) held in aquaria. A daily dose of 100 μg LH-RH analog (LH-RHa) per kg fish body weight was recommended as the dosage schedule of choice, but daily doses as low as 1 cg LH-RHa per kg fish body weight induced spawning of channel catfish. LH-RHa was as good or better than human chorionic gonadotropin or carp pituitary to induce spawning of channel catfish in aquaria. Sham-injected (control) channel caffish spawned in this study contradicting observations in earlier studies.     

Factors Affecting Sediment Oxygen Demand in Commercial Channel Catfish Ponds

Sediment oxygen demand (SOD) measured in 45 commercial channel catfish ponds in northwest Mississippi using in situ respirometry ( N = 167) ranged from 63 to 1,038 mg/m² per h. Mean SOD in this study (359 mg/m² per h) was greater than that reported previously for catfish ponds but was similar to SOD in semi-intensive marine shrimp ponds. Nine variables were selected and measured to assess their relative importance in accounting for variation in SOD. Six variables were included in multiple regression models that explained slightly more than half of the variation in SOD. These variables were: dissolved oxygen concentration at the beginning of respirometry incubation:, particulate organic matter concentration in water above the sediment surface: organic carbon concentration at the immediate sediment-water interface (flocculent or F-layer) combined with the upper 2 cm of sediment (S-layer); organic carbon concentration in the mature (M) underlying sediment layer: water temperature: and total depth of accumulated sediment. Sediment oxygen demand was most sensitive to changes in dissolved oxygen concentration in the overlying water, particulate organic matter concentration in the water, and the concentration of organic carbon in the combined flocculent and upper sediment (F+S) layer. Models for SOD in this research predict that the mass of sediment below the upper 2-cm surface layer on average contributes only ∼20% of total SOD. Stratification and normal daily fluctuation of dissolved oxygen concentration in eutrophic culture ponds likely limit expression of sediment oxygen demand. Maintaining aerobic conditions at the sediment-water interface will minimize accumulation of organic matter in pond sediment.     

Modeling industry-wide sediment oxygen demand and estimation of the contribution of sediment to total respiration in commercial channel catfish ponds

Data collected from 45 commercial channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, ponds were used to develop empirical models predicting sediment oxygen demand (SOD). Seven acceptable models were combined with a Monte-Carlo sampling distribution to predict industry-wide sediment oxygen demand (SOD_i). The SOD_i values obtained from the best equation were used in simulations to assess the effect of diurnally varying water column dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations on SOD and the effect of pond water depth on the contribution of SOD to overall pond respiration. Estimated SOD_i ranged from 62 to 962 mg m⁻² h⁻¹, with a mean of 478 mg m⁻² h⁻¹. There was a 95% probability of mean SOD_i being ≥700 mg m⁻² h⁻¹. The effects of diurnal variation in DO concentration in the water column on expression of SOD was modeled by combining maximum SOD_i, an empirical relationship between DO and SOD, and simulated pond DO concentrations. At DO concentrations >15 mg l⁻¹, diel SOD in catfish ponds exceeded 20 g O₂ m⁻² day⁻¹. But when average diel DO was <4 mg l⁻¹ and the range of DO concentration was 6–8 mg l⁻¹, SOD decreased to 13 g O₂ m⁻² day⁻¹ because DO availability limited the full expression of potential SOD. Respiration totals for sediment (average SOD_i), plankton, and fish respiration were calculated for pond water depths ranging from 0.25 to 4 m. Although whole-pond respiration increases as pond depth increases, the proportion of total respiration represented by sediment decreased from 48 to 10% by increasing water depth over this range. The results of these studies show that SOD is a major component of total pond respiration and that certain management practices can affect the impact of SOD on pond oxygen budgets. Mixing ponds during daylight hours, either mechanically or by orienting ponds for maximum wind fetch, will increase oxygen supply to sediments, thereby allowing maximum expression of SOD and maximum mineralization of sediment organic matter. Given a mixed condition caused by wind or other artificial means, the construction of deeper ponds increases the total mass of DO available for all respiration, causing nighttime DO concentrations to decline at a slower rate, reducing the need for supplemental aeration. Because a pond’s water volume decreases over time from sediment accumulation, annual aeration costs will increase with pond age. Constructing ponds with greater initial depth will therefore reduce long-term cost of aeration, allow more flexible management of pond water budget, and reduce the long-term expense associated with pond reconstruction.     

A Practical Calcium Hardness Criterion for Channel Catfish Hatchery Water Supplies

Three pairs of brood channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus were induced to spawn in aquaria supplied with flowing water from a reservoir filled with ground water (calcium hardness = 110 mg/L as CaCO₃= 44 mg/L as calcium). Fertilized egg masses were allowed to incubate in aquaria for 6 h and each mass was then split into five portions. The five portions were then allowed to hatch and the resulting sac fry developed in waters with calcium hardnesses of 0, 1, 5, 10, or 100 mg/L as CaCO₃ (0, 0.4, 2, 4, or 40 mg/L as calcium). Test waters were prepared from distilleddeionized water and reagent-grade chemicals; tests were conducted using static-renewal conditions. Survival from hatch to onset of exogenous feeding ("swim-up") averaged 62% in calcium-free water and 98% at all other calcium hardness levels. Wet weight gain, dry weight loss, and resistance to environmental hypoxia were significantly affected ( P < 0.05) by environmental calcium levels: best growth, yolk utilization rate (indicated by changes in dry weight and visual observation), and tolerance to low dissolved oxygen concentrations were found at calcium hardnesses of 10 and 100 mg/L as CaCO₃. Based upon these results, a minimum calcium hardness of 10 mg/L as CaCO₃ (4 mg/L as calcium) is recommended for channel catfish hatchery water supplies.     

Dose-Confirmation of Copper Sulfate for Treating Fungus on Channel Catfish,Ictalurus punctatus,Eggs at a Commercial Hatchery

This study at a commercial hatchery was required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to provide independent substantiation of the results of previous laboratory dose-confirmation studies on the use of copper sulfate (CuSO₄) to control fungus (Saprolegnia spp.) on the eggs of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. The study compared an untreated control group of eggs to eggs treated with 10 mg/L CuSO₄ in a flow-through system; mean water temperature was 23.5°C. Eggs were treated once daily until the embryos reached the eyed stage (5 treatments). Hatching was complete by day 11, and fry were counted to determine the percentage of survival in each treatment. Fungus was identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as Saprolegnia spp. The mean survival in the control treatments was 4% and 40% in the CuSO₄ treatments; the latter survival was significantly higher, but still lower than normal. This study confirms that 10 mg/L CuSO₄ is an effective treatment to control fungus on catfish eggs when used daily until the eggs are eyed. However, continued treatment of eggs until hatching occurs may be warranted based on fungal growth rates observed after treatments were discontinued.