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Effects of Intermittent Formalin Treatment of Atlantic Salmon Juveniles on Growth, Condition Factor, Plasma Electrolytes, and Hematocrit in Freshwater and after Transfer to Seawater
Author(s) -
Powell Mark D.,
Speare David J.,
Fulton Alice E.,
Friars Gerry W.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of aquatic animal health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.507
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1548-8667
pISSN - 0899-7659
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8667(1996)008<0064:eoifto>2.3.co;2
Subject(s) - smoltification , seawater , salmo , juvenile , hematocrit , fish measurement , biology , zoology , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , salmonidae , ecology , endocrinology
Treatment of two sizes of juvenile Atlantic salmon Salmo salar (< 16.0 cm and > 16.0 cm initial fork length) with formalin at either 167 or 250 μL/L every 2 weeks for a 12‐week period from mid‐March to the end of May before transfer to seawater had no significant effect on their growth, survival, plasma electrolytes, or hematocrit. Five days after the last treatment, fish were transferred to seawater. Survival after seawater transfer was high for fish in all treatment groups. On the basis of these findings, we conclude that the use of formalin as a bath treatment (up to 250 μL/ L for 90 min) once every alternate week appears to be safe for Atlantic salmon juveniles through the spring period of smoltification, even when the last treatment is 5 d before seawater transfer.