ARS | Publication request: Copper sulfate is an effective, economical, multi-use compound for fish

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: January 8, 2013
Publication Date: February 5, 2013
Citation: Farmer, B.D., Beck, B.H., Mitchell, A.J., Straus, D.L. 2013. Copper sulfate is an effective, economical, multi-use compound for fish [abstract]. 2013 Mid-Continent Warm Water Fish Culture Workshop, February 4-6, 2013, Mt. Magazine State Park, Paris, Arkansas. p.20.

Technical Abstract: Copper sulfate has a long and storied history of use in aquaculture. Copper sulfate also has a wide range of uses including aquatic weed control, snail control, and treating fish diseases. A number of studies have been conducted to show copper sulfate efficacy against diseases including columnaris disease, egg fungus, gill flukes, and costia. Resulting mortality data from each of these studies consistently show significant improvement in copper sulfate treated fish compared to non-treated fish. Recent studies have also shown that pre-treatment of fish with copper sulfate increases their resistance to columnaris disease. The results show that copper sulfate can improve survival by up to 75% using the exposure regime and the protections lasts at least 9 days.