Author
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Mitchell, Andrew |
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Submitted to: International Aquatic Animal Health Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 9/4/2002 Publication Date: 9/4/2002 Citation: Mitchell, A.J. 2002. The preference of mollusk eating fish for three aquatic snails that vector fish trematodes.. International Aquatic Animal Health Symposium Proceedings. p. 154. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Melanoides tuberculata, Planorbella trivolvis and Physella heterostropha are three aquatic snails which host trematodes that can infect both cultured and wild populations of fish causing serious problems. These three snail species were offered to black carp Mylopharngodon pisceus, redear sunfish Lepomis microlophus, blue catfish Ictalurus furcatus and freshwater drum Aplodinotus grunniens, all known molluscivorous fish that could serve as biological snail controls in production systems. Tests were carried out in 70-L aquaria that were connected to a closed recirculating fresh water system with biofiltration. Individual fish were placed into the aquaria (4 fish per trial) and acclimated for 24 h. Twenty individuals of each snail species (60 total) were placed into each aquarium with fish and into 4 control aquaria without fish. Observations were taken hourly for 10 hours and then daily for up to 14 d. All snails used in these studies were of a size appropriate for the mouth gape of the fish tested. All trials were repeated. Initial test results indicated that black carp was the only fish to eat the M. tuberculata. However, they preferred the other two species consuming them at equal rates. Physella heterostropha were preferred over the other snails by both the redear sunfish and freshwater drum. The snail preference of blue catfish is yet to be determined. |
