Evaluation of an Enclosure for Bath Treatment of Caged Fish

Caged channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, with external columnaris infections were treated with potassium permanganate. Permanganate solutions of 20 and 40 mg/L dissipated within 9 minutes from empty cagees. Treatments with aliquots of saturated permanganate solutions were ineffective when poured through cages containing infected fish. A collapsible, PVC framed, floating, plastic enclosure was designed to surround a cage. The enclosure retained 88 to 100% of permanganate solutions for 30 minutes and was effective in treating the disease.