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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #323131
Research Project: The Role of Mucosal Surfaces and Microflora in Immunity and Disease Prevention

Location: Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr

Title: Using copper sulfate on hybrid striped bass eggs to control fungus and increase survival

Author
item Straus, David - Dave
item Farmer, Bradley
item Ledbetter, Cynthia - Cindy
item Beck, Benjamin
item WILLIAMS, RICK - Keo Fish Farm
item CLARK, MIKE - Central Arkansas Fisheries
item FREEZE, MIKE - Keo Fish Farm

Submitted to: Book of Abstracts-Food Security for the Future: The Role of Aquatic Health
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/28/2015
Publication Date: 10/22/2015
Citation: Straus, D.L., Farmer, B.D., Ledbetter, C.K., Beck, B.H., Williams, R.S., Clark, M.L., Freeze, M.T. 2015. Using copper sulfate on hybrid striped bass eggs to control fungus and increase survival [abstract]. Book of Abstracts-Food Security for the Future: The Role of Aquatic Health, October 22-23, 2015, Mississippi State University. p.21

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A major obstacle in fish hatcheries is the inevitable fungal growth on eggs. Copper sulfate (CuSO4) is commonly used for fungus control in channel catfish hatcheries that use troughs, but effectiveness on fish eggs hatched using different systems has only recently been investigated. Fish were spawned at Keo Fish Farm and hybrid striped bass eggs were transferred immediately to typical 1½ gallon McDonald jars for processing with tannic acid (removes stickiness) and iodine (disinfectant). Our experimental egg hatching chambers were ' this size and contained the appropriate amount of eggs that were counted with an XperCount™ bucket. Because eggs start hatching after 2 d, treatment began immediately the afternoon of spawning with a 10 min aerated, static bath and was repeated the morning and afternoon on Day 2. There were three CuSO4 concentrations (10, 20, and 40 ppm) and a control. The hatched larvae were counted with the XperCount™. Fungus was severe in the controls (28% survival). Very little fungus was present in treatments receiving 10 ppm CuSO4 (32% survival) or higher. The best survival was at 40 ppm CuSO4 (50% survival); however, the 20 mg/L CuSO4 treatment (46% survival) gave similar results and allows for a greater margin of safety. During this study we noticed that the eggs stayed blue after being exposed to CuSO4 which indicates that copper sulfate gives the fungus treatment a lasting effect.