Delayed Feeding of Channel Catfish Fry Stocked in Ponds

We compared production variables between channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, nursery ponds fed according to industry standards, that is feeding immediately at stocking, to an alternative practice of delaying feeding for 6 wk after stocking in an effort to utilize natural pond productivity and reduce feed use. Twelve 0.04 ha ponds were fertilized and stocked with swim‐up fry (4–5 d posthatch) at a rate of 10,000/pond (250,000/ha). Ponds were then randomly assigned to either the standard feeding protocol (feeding daily starting immediately at stocking) or an alternative feeding protocol (no feeding until 6 wk post‐stocking). After 18 wk of production, there were no differences in water quality or zooplankton abundance between the two treatments. Fish length was not affected by treatment throughout the study, and survival and total weight harvested were similar. Total kg of feed fed was significantly reduced in the delayed feed treatment, averaging 26 kg/pond less feed fed. If proper fertilization practices are implemented, large numbers of desirable zooplankton for catfish fry culture are attained, and these zooplankton are able to sustain catfish fry stocked up to 250,000/ha. Therefore, no commercial diets are required during the first 6 wk of culture, saving over $95.55/ha in initial feed costs.     

Slow‐release Coated Copper Sulfate as an Algicide for Aquaculture

A coated copper sulfate algicide designed for controlled release of copper was evaluated for its effectiveness in controlling phytoplankton in hybrid catfish, ♀Ictalurus punctatus × ♂Ictalurus furcatus, ponds. Copper concentrations were greater in ponds receiving weekly treatments with copper sulfate crystals than in ponds in which the coated copper sulfate was suspended in porous bags and left in ponds during the study. However, the coated copper sulfate treatment provided a similar degree of phytoplankton control for a period of about 4 mo. Copper additions did not negatively affect catfish survival, production, or feed conversion in either the copper sulfate crystal treatment or in the coated copper sulfate treatment as compared with the control (P > 0.05). Flavor scores for fish did not differ between control and treatments (P > 0.05). The coated copper sulfate appeared to be a potentially effective method for controlling phytoplankton in aquaculture ponds. It would be easier to apply and require fewer applications, and the coated copper algicide would not present a fish toxicity issue that can arise from high copper concentration immediately following copper sulfate crystal treatment.     

Copper Concentrations in Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus Ponds Treated with Copper Sulfate

Copper sulfate (CuSO₄5H₂O) is used to reduce the abundance of blue-green algae and combat off-flavor in channel catfish culture. Copper sulfate usually is applied at a concentration of one-one hundredth of the total alkalinity. A study was performed at the Auburn University Fisheries Research Unit to determine the duration of elevated copper (Cu) concentration following copper sulfate applications. Two alkalinity treatments, 20-40 mg/L and 110-130 mg/L (as CaCO₃), were examined. Copper sulfate was applied biweekly for 14 wk at 03 mg/L for the low alkalinity treatment and 1.2 mg/L for the high alkalinity treatment. Total copper concentrations in pond waters declined to the background level by 48-h post treatment. In addition, total copper concentrations were determined in waters of 38 catfish production ponds located in west central Alabama. The mean and standard deviation were 0.0092 ± 0.0087 mg Cu/L. Copper quickly precipitates from the water or is absorbed by sediments following copper sulfate treatment. Although concentrations of copper in pond waters increase immediately following copper sulfate treatment, they rapidly decrease and seldom exceed the United States Environmental Protection Agency's National Recommended Water Quality Criteria for Priority Toxic Pollutants of 0.013-mg Cu/L. Findings of this study suggest that copper sulfate treatment will not contaminate effluent from catfish ponds because of the short time that applied copper remains in the water column. Furthermore, the most frequent applications of copper sulfate occur in late summer months when rainfall is minimal and pond overflow is rare.     

Nursery rearing of the Asian catfish, Clarias macrocephalus (Günther), at different stocking densities in cages suspended in tanks and ponds

Growth and survival of hatchery‐bred Asian catfish, Clarias macrocephalus (Günther), fry reared at different stocking densities in net cages suspended in tanks and ponds were measured. The stocking densities used were 285, 571 and 1143 fry m^?3 in tanks and 114, 228 and 457 fry m^?3 in ponds. Fish were fed a formulated diet throughout the 28‐day rearing period. Generally, fish reared in cages in ponds grew faster, with a specific growth rate (SGR) range of 10.3–14.6% day^?1, than those in cages suspended in tanks (SGR range 9–11.3% day^?1). This could be attributed to the presence of natural zooplankton (copepods and cladocerans) in the pond throughout the culture period, which served as additional food sources for catfish juveniles. In both scenarios, the fish reared at lower densities had significantly higher SGR than fish reared at higher densities. In the pond, the SGR of fish held at 228 and 457 m^?3 were similar to each other but were significantly lower than those of fish held at 114 m^?3. The zooplankton in ponds consisted mostly of copepods and cladocerans, in contrast to tanks, in which rotifers were more predominant. Per cent survival ranged from 85% to 89% in tanks and from 78% to 87% in ponds and did not differ significantly among stocking densities and between rearing systems. In conclusion, catfish nursery in cages suspended in tanks and ponds is density dependent. Catfish fry reared at 285 m^?3 in tanks and at 114 m^?3 in ponds had significantly faster growth rates than fish reared at higher densities. However, the desired fingerling size of 3–4 cm total length for stocking in grow‐out culture can still be attained at stocking densities of 457 m^?3 in nursery pond and 571 m^?3 in tanks.     

Chemical Prevention and Treatment of Winter Saprolegniosis (“Winter Kill”) in Channel Catfish Ictalurus puncfatus1

The efficacies of formalin, potassium permanganate, sodium chloride, and copper sulfate as prophylactic treatments for saprolegniosis (“winter kill”) in channel caffish Icralums puncratus were evaluated. Formalin and copper sulfate were also evaluated as postinfective treatments for the disease. Each of the five experiments was conducted with 5–to 7-g channel catfish placed in static water aquaria maintained in refrigerated tanks. Water temperature was reduced from 25 to 10 C within 36 h and maintained at 10 ± 0.5 C for 28 d. Fish were exposed to cultured Saprolegnia sp. at 20 C, and morbidity and mortality data were recorded for 28 d. Saprolegnia sp.-associated mortalities occurred 7–10 d after exposure. Formalin (25 mg/L) was effective as both a prophylactic and postinfective treatment for saprolegniosis. Copper sulfate was effective in preventing saprolegniosis at a concentration of 0.1 mg/L, but was ineffective as a postinfective treatment. Sodium chloride at 5,000 mg/L was effective in preventing saprolegniosis, but was not practical for use in the commercial catfish industry. Potassium permanganate (up to 0.5 mg/L) was not effective in preventing or treating saprolegniosis in channel caffish. Based on the results of this study, it may be possible to prevent saprolegniosis in channel catfish using formalin or copper sulfate during winter when fish are immunosuppressed by rapid decreases in water temperature or to treat infected fish with formalin. However, the routine use of chemicals to control this disease should not be recommended until studies on their efficacy under typical caffish culture conditions and the effect of long-term use of chemicals on fish and on the environment are completed.     

The Effect of Continual,Nocturnal, or No Aeration on Water Chemistry and Plankton Standing Crops in Highly-Fertilized Sunshine Bass,Morone chrysops × M. saxatilis,Fingerling Production Ponds Without Fish

ABSTRACT

Production of fingerlings from very small fry depends upon an initial high concentration of rotifers followed by high densities of crustacean zooplankton. High fertilization rates lead to increased zooplankton production but often cause poor water quality conditions that aeration may alleviate. This study was designed to determine the effects of constant, nocturnal, and no aeration on water quality, primary productivity, and standing crops of phytoplankton and zooplankton in heavily fertilized nursery-size ponds that contained no fish.

Four 0.04-ha ponds were aerated continually; four ponds were aerated only at night with a 372-W (1/2 hp) paddlewheel aerator; and four ponds were not aerated. For 21 days after they were filled on July 21, 1999, the ponds received 1,224 kg/ha rice bran and 581kg/ha liquid 9-27-0 fertilizer. Water quality variables, primary production, chlorophyll-a and zooplankton were sampled daily.

Constant aeration resulted in several conditions more conducive to survival of fish fry, such as higher zooplankton densities, more moderate temperatures, and safer dissolved oxygen levels than did nocturnal aeration or no aeration. However, the development of a higher standing crop of phytoplankton and higher total ammonia concentrations in the turbulent, constantly aerated ponds resulted in higher un-ionized ammonia levels that were not favorable to survival and growth of fry. The high concentrations of zooplankton that developed in the aerated ponds have good potential for cropping to inoculate other ponds or to provide live foods for tank culture of zooplanktivorous fish.     

Acute Toxicity of Copper to Juvenile Freshwater Prawns,Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Abstract

Copper sulfate is an algicide that is commonly used for phytoplankton and filamentous algae control and has been used as a therapeutant in aquaculture. The objectives of this study were to determine the acute toxicity of copper sulfate and the safe level for use in freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, production ponds in a high calcium and alkalinity environment. Six concentrations of copper sulfate (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 mg/L) were tested in 8-L glass aquaria for 48 hours with three replicate aquaria per treatment. Concentrations of calcium hardness and alkalinity were set at 100 mg/L using calcium chloride and sodium bicarbonate, respectively. After 48 hours, survival of the control treatment (0% CuSO₄) averaged 97%, which was significantly higher (P< 0.05) than that of all other treatments. The survival in the 0.2 mg/L and 0.4 mg/L (70% and 73%, respectively) concentrations of CuSO₄ were significantly greater (P< 0.05) than higher dose treatments; but were not significantly different from each other (P> 0.05). Treatments containing 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0-mg/L copper sulfate demonstrated a dramatic decrease in prawn survival, which averaged 30, 7, and 0%, respectively. Regression analysis of the data predicted 48-hour LC₅₀ for copper sulfate tobe0.46 mg/L. Since recommended application rates for use of copper sulfate as an algicide are 1.0 mg/L or more for water with alkalinities of 100 mg/L, copper sulfate treatments are not recommended for prawn production ponds.     

Aphanizomenon flos-aquae,A Toxic Blue-Green Alga in Commercial Channel Catfish,Ictalurus punctatus,Ponds:

During the summers of 1990 and 1991 in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina, high mortality rates (50-90%) of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, in production ponds were attributed to the toxic form of the blue-green alga (Cyanobacterium) Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. Toxicity varied with algal strain and/or stage in life history, and a simple bioassay was developed to account for the differential toxicity of algae within ponds. The bioassay required an intraperitoneal injection of a sonicated, 30X concentrate of algal cells that are injected into 8- to 20-g fish. Injection with 0.05 ml of concentrate from the toxic strains caused hyperactivity and paralysis in fish within 10 minutes and mortality within an hour. The endotoxin from A. flos-aquae (aphantoxin) was neutralized with the equivalent of 1.7 mg/L potassium permanganate beyond demand. In production ponds, an application of copper sulfate followed with potassium permanganate had variable success. Muddying the ponds had only limited success but appeared promising. Water and soil chemistry in this geographic area probably influenced the frequency of toxic A. flos-aquae blooms.     

Acute Toxicity of Several Chemicals to the Oligochaete Dero digitata

Proliferative gill disease (PGD) is a serious problem in the farm-raised channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus industry. Interrupting the life cycle of the sporozoan causative agent by eliminating Dero digitata worms from culture ponds would be one method of controlling PGD. Eight chemicals—sodium chloride, hydrogen peroxide, formalin, potassium permanganate, liquid copper sulfate, chloramine-T, rotenone and Bayluscide—were tested for acute toxicity against D. digitata . Static, single compound acute toxicity tests were conducted using three replications (10 worm/replicate) of six chemical concentrations and a control. Spearman-Karber analysis was used to calculate 24- and 48-h LC50 concentrations based on active ingredient for each compound. Calculated 24-h LC50 values were: sodium chloride 6,800 mg/L, hydrogen peroxide 13.2 μL/L, formalin 23.3 μL/L, potassium perrnanganate 5.7 mg/L, copper sulfate 7.6 mg/L, chloramine-T 29.5 mg/L, rotenone 0.26 μL/L, and Bayluscide 0.24 mg/L. Formalin and hydrogen peroxide may be options for eliminating D. digitata populations in ponds with fish because their LC50 concentrations were consistent with safe concentrations for fish. Rotenone, Bayluscide, chloramine-T, formalin, and potassium permanganate may be useful as a pond sterilization strategy by treating fingerling ponds prior to stocking fish each year. However, the presence of substrate and organic matter in ponds could impact the efficacy of the chemicals and D. digitata's response to treatment. Treatments should be further evaluated to determine field efficacy, procedures for use, and effects on cost of production.     

Water and Sediment Quality,Phytoplankton Communities,and Channel Catfish Production in Sodium Nitrate-Treated Ponds

Three channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) ponds were treated at two-week intervals with sodium nitrate at 2 mg NO₃ ^?-N/L per application and three ponds served as controls. Average concentration of nitrite-nitrogen measured midway between application dates never exceeded 1.2 mg/L in treated ponds, but on most sampling dates, nitrate concentrations were greater than those in control ponds (P < 0.1). Disappearance of nitrate-nitrogen from waters of treated ponds resulted primarily from nitrate reduction to free nitrogen gas. Soluble reactive and total phosphorus concentrations tended to be higher (P < 0.1) in treated ponds than in control ponds. There were no differences (P > 0.1) in pH and concentrations of total alkalinity, total ammonia nitrogen, and dissolved oxygen between treated and control ponds. The higher chlorophyll a concentration (P < 0.1) suggested that greater availability of nutrients in treated ponds resulted in more phytoplankton growth than in control ponds. Because of greater phytoplankton biomass, turbidity was higher and Secchi disk visibility less in treated ponds as compared to control ponds (P < 0.1). There were no obvious differences in phytoplankton community composition with respect to treatment—blue-green algae dominated the phytoplankton community in both treated and control ponds. Redox potential in sediment during crops was higher in ponds treated with sodium nitrate than in control ponds, indicating less anaerobic conditions. However, catfish survival, production, and feed conversion ratio did not differ (P > 0.1) between treatment and control.     

Threadfin shad impacts phytoplankton and zooplankton community structures in channel catfish ponds

Plankton community structure and chlorophyll a concentration were compared in twelve 0.1 ha earthen ponds co‐stocked with channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus Rafinesque, 1818) in a multiple‐batch culture (initial biomass=5458 kg ha^?1) and a planktivore, threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense Güther, 1867; initial biomass=449 kg ha^?1), during the April–November growing season. We used a completely randomized design in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement to test the planktivore level (presence or absence of threadfin shad) and channel catfish feeding frequency (daily or every third day). Channel catfish were fed a 32% protein feed to apparent satiation on days fed. The presence of threadfin shad affected phytoplankton and zooplankton community structure more than did feeding frequency, and the impact in ponds was more pronounced after 1 July. The numbers of all major groups of zooplankton were lower in ponds with threadfin shad, but were unaffected by the feeding frequency. Chlorophyll a concentration before 1 July was higher in ponds with threadfin shad and unaffected by the feeding frequency, whereas after 1 July it was higher in ponds without threadfin shad and that were fed daily. Phytoplankton community structure after 1 July was dominated by nuisance algal bloom genera of cyanobacteria in ponds without threadfin shad and by Bacillariophyceae in ponds with threadfin shad.     

Initial influence of fertilizer nitrogen types on water quality

Using different sources of nitrogen as fertilizers in nursery ponds may affect water quality and plankton responses. We evaluated water quality variables and plankton population responses when using different nitrogen sources for catfish nursery pond fertilization. We compared calcium nitrate (12% N), sodium nitrite (20% N), ammonium chloride (26% N), ammonium nitrate (34% N) and urea (45% N) in 190‐L microcosms at equimolar nitrogen application rates. Sodium nitrite‐fertilized microcosms had higher nitrite and nitrate levels during the first week; no other differences in the water quality were detected among fertilizer types (P>0.05). No differences in green algae, diatoms or cyanobacteria were detected among treatments; desirable zooplankton for catfish culture was increased in urea‐fertilized microcosms. Based on these results, any form of nitrogen used for pond fertilization should perform similarly without causing substantial water quality deterioration. Ammonium nitrate and urea contain a higher percentage of nitrogen, requiring less volume to achieve dosing levels. If both urea and ammonium nitrate are available, we recommend using the one with the least cost per unit of nitrogen. If both types of fertilizer have an equal cost per unit of nitrogen, we recommend using urea because of the potential advantage of increasing desirable zooplankton concentrations.     

Low-density silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Valenciennes) polyculture does not prevent cyanobacterial off-flavours in channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque)

Silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Valenciennes) were co‐cultured with channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque) in 0.4 ha earthen ponds to determine the impacts of carp grazing on pond phytoplankton communities and cyanobacterial off‐flavours in catfish. Carp were stocked at densities of 0, 75, or 250 fish ha^?1 in seven replicate ponds per treatment. The mean chlorophyll a concentrations (a measure of phytoplankton standing crop) steadily increased in all treatments from about 100 μg L^?1 in April to more than 400 μg L^?1 by mid‐October. Silver carp had no affect (P>0.1) on chlorophyll a concentrations across all sampling dates (April though October) or for sampling dates late in the growing season (August–October) when the prevalence of cyanobacterial off‐flavours among catfish populations is usually greatest. Silver carp did not eliminate odour‐producing cyanobacteria from pond phytoplankton communities: on sampling dates in September and October, three to six ponds in all treatments contained populations of the odour‐producing cyanobacteria Oscillatoria perornata, Anabaena spp., or both. Failure of silver carp to eliminate odour‐producing cyanobacteria resulted in a relatively high incidence in all treatments of ponds with off‐flavoured catfish. On sampling dates in September and October, catfish in three to five ponds in each treatment were tainted with either musty (2‐methylisoborneol) or earthy (geosmin) off‐flavours. The presence of silver carp had no obvious effect on off‐flavour intensity: on each sampling date, at least three ponds in each treatment contained catfish described as distinctly to extremely off‐flavored. Apparently, hypertrophic conditions in catfish ponds overwhelm the effect of silver carp grazing at the low carp densities used in this study.     

Environmental Assessment of Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus Farming in Alabama

An environmental assessment was made of Alabama channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus farming which is concentrated in the west‐central region of the state. There are about 10,000 ha of production ponds with 10.7% of the area for fry and fingerlings and 89.3% for food fish. Food fish production was about 40,800 tons in 1997. Watershed ponds filled by rainfall and runoff make up 76% of total pond area. Water levels in many of these ponds are maintained in dry weather with well water. The other ponds are embankment ponds supplied by well water. Harvest is primarily by seine‐through procedures and ponds are not drained frequently. The main points related to Alabama catfish farming and environment issues are as follows: 1) catfish farming in Alabama is conservative of water, and excluding storm overflow, about two pond volumes are intentionally discharged from each pond in 15 yr; 2) overflow from ponds following rains occurs mostly in winter and early spring when pond water quality is good and stream discharge volume is high; 3) total suspended solids concentrations in pond effluents were high, and the main sources of total suspended solids were erosion of embankments, pond bottoms, and discharge ditches; 4) concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in effluents were not high, but annual effluent loads of these two nutrients were greater than for typical row crops in Alabama; 5) ground water use by the industry is about 86,000 m³/d, but seepage from ponds returns water to aquifers; 6) there is little use of medicated feeds; 7) copper sulfate is used to control blue‐green algae and off‐flavor in ponds, but copper is rapidly lost from pond water; 8) although sodium chloride is applied to ponds to control nitrite toxicity, stream or ground water salinization has not resulted from this practice; 9) fertilizers are applied two or three times annually to fry and fingerling ponds and occasionally to grow‐out ponds; 10) hydrated lime is applied occasionally at 50 to 100 kg/ha but this does not cause high pH in pond waters or effluents; 11) accumulated sediment removed from pond bottoms is used to repair embankments and not discarded outside ponds; 12) sampling above and below catfish pond outfalls on eight streams revealed few differences in stream water quality; 13) electricity used for pumping water and mechanical aeration is only 0.90 kW h/kg of production; 14) each metric ton of fish meal used in feeds yields about 10 tons of dressed catfish. Reduction in effluent volume through water reuse and effluent treatment in settling basins or wetlands does not appear feasible on most farms. However, some management practices are recommended for reducing the volume and improving the quality of channel catfish pond effluents.     

Comparison of Copper Sulfate Concentrations to Control Ichthyophthiriasis in Fingerling Channel Catfish

ABSTRACT

Fingerling channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus were exposed to Ichthyophthirius multifiliis-infested fish until immature trophonts developed. The fish were transferred to individual static fiberglass tanks filled with 600 L of pond water (total alkalinity and total hardness was 220 mg/L and 101 mg/L, respectively) and were treated with 0, 1.1, 2.2, 3.3, or 4.4 mg/L copper sulfate (CuSO₄ · 5H₂O) every other day for four treatments to evaluate its effectiveness to control mortality associated with ichthyophthiriasis. Water temperature was maintained at 18 ± 1°C. Fish were observed for ten days post-treatment and mortalities were recorded. Results indicate that half of the recommended dose (1.1 mg/L CuSO₄) is needed to effectively control an occurrence of ichthyophthiriasis under the conditions of this study. However, fish culturists should be aware that effective CuSO₄ treatment of ichthyophthiriasis on channel catfish raised in ponds may be influenced by water chemistry characteristics and suspended materials such as pond sediments.     

Potassium Permanganate is Not an Effective Pond Disinfectant to Control Dero digitata

Proliferative gill disease (PGD) is a major problem in cultured channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. This parasite requires Dero digitata to complete its life cycle. It is believed potassium permanganate disinfects ponds and reduces D. digitata populations, but this practice has not been verified experimentally. We evaluated potassium permanganate as a pond disinfectant to reduce D. digitata populations before stocking fish. In the first study, 2 L catfish pond mud and 18 L pond water were placed in each of 16 20‐L microcosms. Four microcosms were dosed at each of four potassium permanganate treatment levels (0, 10, 20, and 30 mg/L). After treatment, D. digitata present in the sample were counted. In a second study, benthic populations were compared in 10 0.04 ha ponds before and after treatment with 20 mg/L potassium permanganate. In the microcosm study, all treatment levels significantly (P < 0.05) reduced D. digitata populations relative to controls. However, in the field trial, there were no significant (P < 0.05) differences pre‐ and post‐treatment with potassium permanganate at 20 mg/L in Dero populations or total benthic organism populations. Although we believed such high levels of potassium permanganate would sterilize the pond, the results of the pond treatments in this study indicate otherwise.     

Effects of an Extended Hatchery Phase and Vaccination against Enteric Septicemia of Catfish on the Production of Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, Fingerlings

The present study was conducted to evaluate production management methods to improve overall survival of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, fry to the fingerling stage by incorporating the use of a live, attenuated vaccine against Edwardsiella ictaluri and employing an extended hatchery phase. In this experiment, four treatments were used. In Treatment 1, 10‐d posthatch (PH) fry were vaccinated and then directly stocked into earthen ponds. In Treatments 2 and 3, 10‐d PH fry were sham‐vaccinated (control) and vaccinated, respectively, kept in nursery tanks for 22 d, and then stocked into earthen ponds. Fry in Treatment 4 were sham‐vaccinated at 10 d PH, kept in nursery tanks for 22 d, and then vaccinated prior to stocking into earthen ponds. Mean fingerling yield at harvest ranged from 4716 kg/ha in Treatment 1 to 8112 kg/ha in Treatment 4. Mean individual fish weight ranged from 38.8 g in Treatment 1 to 40.9 g in Treatment 4, and feed conversion ratios (FCR) ranged from 1.15 in Treatment 4 to 1.51 in Treatment 1. Mean survival ranged from 47.5% in Treatment 1 to 73.4% in Treatment 4. In specific comparisons to evaluate the nursery effect (Treatments 1 and 3), yield and overall survival were significantly different (P < 0.05) between these two treatments. In specific comparisons to evaluate the effect of the use of the vaccine (Treatments 2, 3, and 4), overall survival was significantly different (P < 0.05) between Treatment 2 (sham‐vaccinated control with nursery phase) and Treatment 4 (vaccinated at 32 d PH with nursery phase). No significant differences (P > 0.05) in yield, average weight, and FCR were observed between treatments. Results indicate that implementing an extended hatchery phase and vaccination strategy with older fry can improve overall survival of fingerling fish.     

Survival of Clarias gariepinus fry in earthen ponds: Effects of composts and leaks

To inform decisions on improving the yields of African catfish Clarias gariepinus fingerlings in earthen ponds, the hypothesis that composts and leaks were partly responsible for usually low and variable fry survivals was tested, through comparison of treatments and simple regression. The occurrence of amphibians was significantly higher (P < 0.05) and survival of fry was significantly lower (P < 0.02) in ponds with composts than in those without. The survival of fry and fingerlings in earthen ponds was negatively correlated with their night leaking rates and regression analysis yielded the equations y = − 13.31x + 82.56 for fry and y = − 6.97x + 95.29 for fingerlings, where y is the survival of fry or fingerlings in a holding pond and x is the leaking rate of the pond. Realizing how negatively the existence of composts and leaks could affect the survival of fry and fingerlings, fertilizing unfenced ponds with composts and sterilizing nursery ponds by drying were proscribed.     

Channel Catfish Polyculture with Fathead Minnows or Threadfin Shad: Effects on Pond Plankton Communities and Catfish Fillet Flavor,Color, and Fatty Acid Composition

Threadfin shad, Dorosoma petenense, or fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas, were co‐cultured with channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, in earthen ponds to determine the effects of planktivory on plankton community dynamics and catfish fillet quality. Fathead minnows had no effect on the plankton community structure or catfish fillet flavor, color, and fatty acid composition. Fillet color was also unaffected by the presence of threadfin shad. Small differences were found in fillet fatty acid composition for catfish from ponds with shad, but these differences probably have no biological significance. Threadfin shad did, however, have important impacts on the plankton community structure and catfish flavor. Size‐selective filter‐feeding by shad reduced cyanobacterial abundance relative to ponds with catfish‐only and fathead minnows. Relative abundance of smaller phytoplankton in the groups Chlorophyta, Cryptophyta, Bacillariophyceae, and Euglenophyta increased in ponds with shad. Relative abundance of small zooplankton (rotifers) also increased in shad ponds. Reduced abundance of large, colonial cyanobacteria that are known to produce odorous metabolites caused a corresponding reduction in off‐flavor prevalence and intensity in catfish from ponds with threadfin shad when sampled in September. Although threadfin shad dramatically reduced catfish off‐flavor prevalence during the warm season, they apparently caused a high prevalence of “fishy” off‐flavors in the February sample. This undesirable flavor appeared to be caused by catfish foraging on shad killed during a preceding period of exceptionally cold water temperatures. Use of threadfin shad for phytoplankton biomanipulation therefore presents a dilemma: catfish–shad polyculture reduces prevalence of cyanobacteria‐related off‐flavors in warm months but may cause undesirable forage‐related off‐flavors in the colder months. Catfish farmers must consider these benefits and risks when deciding to use threadfin shad as a management tool.     

Effects of Mosquitofish,Gambusia affinis,on Channel Catfish,Ictalurus puncatatus,Production Ponds

Mosquitofish, Gambusia sp., have been spread throughout the world to biologically control mosquitoes. However, the fish has gained a reputation as an invasive species and has been implicated in displacing native aquatic species. Gambusia affinis are native to the southeastern United States and commonly occur in commercial channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, production ponds. We investigated effects of mosquitofish presence on zooplankton populations, water quality, disease occurrence, and fish production in experimental ponds. There were no differences between ponds with or without mosquitofish in numbers of calanoid copepods, cyclopoid copepods, total copepods, Bosmina sp., Ceriodaphnia sp., Moina sp., Daphnia sp., or total cladocerans. There were also no differences in copepod and cladoceran sizes. Copepod nauplii were more numerous during the summer months in ponds with mosquitofish. There were no differences in water quality variables (soluble reactive phosphorus, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, pH) or phytoplankton density between ponds stocked with and without mosquitofish. Catfish production and disease occurrence were also similar between ponds with and without mosquitofish. Although mosquitofish may cause problems when stocked outside their native range, there does not appear to be any adverse effects of mosquitofish presence in catfish production ponds.