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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #186951
Title: OPTIMIZING SLURRIED-HYDRATED LIME POND-SHORELINE TREATMENTS FOR AQUATIC SNAILS VECTORING TREMATODES TO CULTURED FISH

Author
item Mitchell, Andrew
item WISE, DAVID - NAT. WARMWATER AQUA. CTR.
item Snyder, Gregory

Submitted to: Catfish Culture Research Symposium
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/30/2005
Publication Date: 2/24/2006
Citation: Mitchell, A.J., Wise, D.J., Snyder, S.G. 2006. Optimizing slurried-hydrated lime pond-shoreline treatments for aquatic snails vectoring trematodes to cultured fish [abstract]. Catfish Culture Research Symposium. p. 30.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Trematodes can cause massive infections in fish, and the most promising approach for the control of these infections is the reduction or elimination of snails that vector the trematodes. A recent approach, the application of concentrated chemical treatments along the margins of a pond (pond-shoreline treatment), has shown promise in controlling rams-horn snails Planorbella trivolvis (the snail vector of Bolbophorus damnificus and Clinostomum marginatum) in experimental ponds. Copper sulfate and hydrated lime (HL) have been used as shoreline treatments to control snail populations around the margins of the pond. While copper sulfate has been shown to effectively reduced snail numbers, treatment efficacy and application methods using HL have not been well defined. A study was set up to optimize a slurried-hydrated lime pond-shoreline treatment for aquatic snails. A slurry of HL (300 lbs/113 gal of water) was applied along the margins of 1 acre earthen ponds to deliver a 3 ft wide swath of 80 lbs/100 ft and 100 lbs/100 ft and a 6 ft wide swath of 80 lbs/100 ft and 175 lbs/100 ft. The treatment was applied at water temperatures ranging between 75° and 79°F and a total alkalinity and total hardness ranging between 137 to 257 ppm CaCO3 and 86 to 120 ppm CaCO3, respectively. All applications were shown to reduce snail numbers. The most effective treatment rate for reducing snail numbers was a 3 ft wide application of 100 lbs HL/100 ft (97.2 % reduction in snail survival) and a 6 ft wide application of 175 lbs HL/100 ft (96% reduction in snail survival). At a delivery rate of 80 lbs HL/100 ft, increasing the width of the treatment swath from 3 ft to 6 ft, decreased the reduction in snail survival from 83.1% to 61.5%. Based on these trials, the most effective and economical application of slurried-hydrated lime is a 3 ft swath at 100 lbs/100 ft. If it is necessary to increase the width of the treatment swath to 6 ft, the application rate should be increased to 175 lbs HL/100 ft.