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Effects of Low Levels of Salinity on Production Characteristics of Fingerling Channel Catfish Reared from Fry
Author(s) -
O'Neal Clifford C.,
Weirich C. R.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
north american journal of aquaculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.432
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1548-8454
pISSN - 1522-2055
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8454(2001)063<0156:eollos>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - catfish , ictalurus , salinity , biology , zoology , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , ecology
Two production trials were conducted to determine the effects of low levels of salinity on production characteristics of fingerling channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus reared from fry under simulated nursery pond conditions. In each trial, fry were stocked into 10,000‐L earthen‐bottom pools at salinities of 0, 1, 2, or 4 g NaCl/L and reared for 170‐d to produce fingerling catfish. At termination, selected production characteristics (weight, length, total yield, percent survival, feed conversion ratio, and feed consumption) were determined. In both trials, final weight and length of fish was greatest at a salinity of 1 g/L. Total yields of fish reared at salinities of 0, 1, or 2 g/L were not significantly different; however, yield was reduced at a salinity of 4 g/L. Survival and feed conversion ratio were not significantly affected by salinity levels tested. The total amount of feed fed to fish reared at a salinity of 4 g/L was significantly less than that fed to fish reared at salinities of 0 and 1 g/L in both trials. Results of this preliminary study suggest that production of fingerling channel catfish is unaffected at salinities of 2 g/L or less and may even be enhanced at a salinity of 1 g/L.