Survival and Growth of White Bass Morone chrysops Reared at Different Salinities

Abstract.— Juvenile white bass Morone chrysops (age 158 d, 110.4 mm total length) were reared at salinity levels of 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 parts per thousand (ppt). Fish (10/tank) were stocked in 64-L tanks with four replicates/treatment ( N = 40heatment) and fed a pelleted feed daily. Fish were sampled semimonthly for 70 d. Fish reared at salinities of 12 ppt and below were significantly ( P ≤ 0.05) larger (mean = 151.5 mm total length; range 146.8–155.7 mm) than fish reared at salinities of 16 and 20 ppt (mean 133.7 mm total length; range 131.5–135.8 mm) after 70 d. Survival was also higher ( P ≤ 0.05) among fish reared at salinities of 12 ppt or lower (mean 85.6%; range 77.5%–92.5%) compared to those reared at the two highest salinities (42.5% survival at 16 ppt; 5.0% survival at 20 ppt). Thus, although typically found in freshwater habitats, white bass can survive and grow in brackish water.