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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #300041
Title: Minnows get columnaris too; copper sulfate works!

Author
item Farmer, Bradley
item Beck, Benjamin
item Straus, David - Dave
item KELLY, ANITA - University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff

Submitted to: Book of Abstracts Aquaculture America
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2013
Publication Date: 2/10/2014
Citation: Farmer, B.D., Beck, B.H., Straus, D.L., Kelly, A.M. 2014. Minnows get columnaris too; copper sulfate works! [abstract]. Abstracts of Aquaculture America 2014: Taking Aquaculture to New Heights through Technology, Marketing, Collaboration, February 9-12, 2014, Seattle, Washington. p.252.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A study was conducted to compare the therapeutic effects of copper sulfate (CuSO4), when delivered in either a flow-through or static system, on the survival of golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas; Fig. 1A) and fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas; Fig. 1B) infected with Flavobacterium columnare (Fig. 1C). The treatment regimens were investigated for their ability to reduce mortality in well water that had 218 mg/L alkalinity, 112 mg/L hardness and pH of 8.5. Treatment rate of CuSO4 was 2.2 mg/L and applied as flow-through at 24 h intervals on consecutive days; control fish were untreated. The study durations were 7 days with the majority of the mortality occurring in the first 5 days. The survival rate of CuSO4-treated golden shiner was 68% and was 77% for fathead minnow in the flow-through system; both were significantly different from the untreated control fish (39% survival for golden shiner and 33% survival for fathead minnow). Static applications of CuSO4 were investigated at the treatment levels of 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 mg/L (approximately 0.25x, 0.5x, 1x, and 2x the recommended rate) to reduce mortality of golden shiner and fathead minnow infected with F. columnare; control fish were untreated. The survival of fathead minnow was 28, 52, 47 and 35% in the 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 mg/L CuSO4 treatments, respectively; survival in the untreated control was 7%. The survival of golden shiner was 58, 65, 75 and 70% in the 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 mg/L CuSO4 treatments, respectively; survival in the untreated control was 48%.