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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #187564
Title: UNIFORM APPLICATION OF COPPER SULFATE AS A POTENTIAL TREATMENT FOR CONTROLLING SNAIL POPULATIONSIN CHANNEL CATFISH PONDS

Author
item WISE, DAVID - MS STATE UNIVERSITY
item MISCHKE, CHARLES - MS STATE UNIVERSITY
item GREENWAY, TERRY - MS STATE UNIVERSITY
item BYARS, TODD - MS STATE UNIVERSITY
item Mitchell, Andrew

Submitted to: North American Journal of Aquaculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/2/2005
Publication Date: 10/26/2006
Citation: Wise, D.J., Mischke, C.C., Greenway, T., Byars, T., Mitchell, A.J. 2006. Uniform application of copper sulfate as a potential treatment for controlling snail populationsin channel catfish ponds. North American Journal of Aquaculture. 68:364-368.

Interpretive Summary: Trematodes identified as Bolbophorus sp. cause severe mortalities and reduced production in commercially raised channel catfish in the southeastern United States. Currently, chemical control measures are limited to pond-shoreline treatments using hydrated lime or copper sulfate to kill snails that carry this parasite. If the snails are not in close proximity to the ponds edge (snails are found throughout shallow ponds, not primarily around the edges), then these shoreline treatments have little impact on snail populations. Tests were conducted to determine the feasibility of using uniformly applied copper sulfate pentahydrate (CSP) to the surface of the pond water to eradicate snails from the pond environment. Uniform application of 2.5 and 5.0 ppm CSP was effective in killing snails around the margins of the pond and throughout the water column but with some risk to fish health. On average, pond treatments killed more than 96% of the test snails, while mortality of control snails was less than 8.5%. At the high treatment dose some fish mortality occurred apparently as a direct or indirect result of this treatment. These trials indicate CPS uniformly applied to the water can be used with caution as an effective snail treatment in commercial catfish production ponds with waters similar (total alkalinities and total hardnesses of 200 ppm or more) to those tested.

Technical Abstract: The digenetic trematode identified as Bolbophorus sp. has been implicated as a cause of severe mortalities and reduced production in commercially raised channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus in the southeastern United States. Currently, chemical control measures to limit the impact of this disease focus on pond shoreline treatments using hydrated lime or copper sulfate to kill the marsh rams-horn snail Planorbella trivolvis that inhabit the aquatic vegetation around the perimeter of the pond. While effective, these treatments have little impact on snails that are not within close proximity to the pond bank. Tests were conducted to determine the feasibility of using elevated levels of copper sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO4.5H2O; CSP) uniformly applied to the surface of the pond water to eradicate snails from the pond environment. These data showed that uniform application of copper sulfate pentahydrate to deliver between 2.5 and 5.0 mg/L CSP (0.64 and 1.27 mg/L Cu) was effective in killing snails around the margins of the pond and throughout the water column with some risk to fish health. On average, pond treatments killed > 96% of the test snails, while mortality of control snails was less than 8.5%. At the high treatment dose some fish mortality occurred apparently as a direct or indirect result of this treatment. Results of the commercial field trial were comparable to tests conducted in experimental ponds, where application of copper sulfate pentahydrate at 5.0 mg/L CSP was shown to be effective in killing snails at all sample site locations. The treatment was also shown to reduce the natural population of snails along the pond margin by 98.3%. These trials indicate CPS uniformly applied to the water can be used with caution as an effective treatment against the marsh rams-horn snail in commercial catfish production ponds with waters of similar parameters to those tested (total alkalinities and total hardnesses of 200 mg/L or more).