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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #141132
Title: THE EFFECT OF CITRIC ACID, COPPER SULFATE CONCENTRATION, AND TEMPERATURE ON THE EFFICACY OF THE POND SHORELINE TREATMENT FOR CONTROLLING RAMS-HORN SNAILS AND THE POTENTIAL TOXICITY OF THIS TREATMENT TO CHANNEL CATFISH.

Author
item Mitchell, Andrew
item Hobbs, Melissa

Submitted to: Catfish Farmers of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/21/2003
Publication Date: 2/21/2003
Citation: MITCHELL, A.J., HOBBS, M.S. THE EFFECT OF CITRIC ACID, COPPER SULFATE CONCENTRATION, AND TEMPERATURE ON THE EFFICACY OF THE POND SHORELINE TREATMENT FOR CONTROLLING RAMS-HORN SNAILS AND THE POTENTIAL TOXICITY OF THIS TREATMENT TO CHANNEL CATFISH.. CATFISH FARMERS OF AMERICA ANNUAL MEETING. 2003. p.15.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Tests were run to determine if any refinements were warranted in the copper sulfate-citric acid (CuSO4-CA) pond shoreline treatment (589 g of CuSO4 with 58.9 g of CA applied in a 2 m swath over a 10 m length of shoreline) for rams-horn snails (EPA registration #1278-8). In research ponds without vegetation, the use of this treatment without the CA was significantly more effective. Copper sulfate rates lower than the original treatment level both with and without CA were found to be significantly less effective than the original amount except at 35°C where ½ the CuSO4 rate (294.5g) was observed to be equally effective. Significant differences could not be demonstrated at temperatures ranging from 17 to 35°C. However, an obvious reduction in effectiveness was noted at 17±0.5°C (40% snail survival). At 31°C, the CuSO4-CA combination was found to be more toxic to channel catfish than an application of the same amount of CuSO4 alone. The combination treatment when applied around 0.41 ha research ponds (ponds smaller than recommended for the shoreline treatment) was found to be significantly more toxic over a 5 d period at 31°C (<35% survival) than at 28°C (>95% survival). In static toxicity tests of the treatment combination containing 3.4 mg/L CuSO4, significantly fewer fish survived for 48 h at 31°C (16.7% survival) than did at 28°C (50% survival). One minute after application of the shoreline treatment significantly higher levels of Cu++ were found with the CuSO4-CA combination (3.5 mg/L) at 0.5 m of the pond shore than with CuSO4 alone (1.6 mg/L) at the same distance. Based on efficacy and toxicity data, application of the shoreline treatment is suggested in waters with temperatures from 21 to 28°C.