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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #244037
Title: Effects of Loading Density on Golden Shiner Survival During and After Hauling

Author
item Pearson, Philip
item Small, Brian
item BEECHAM, R - Mississippi Valley State University
item SINK, T - University Of Arkansas
item LABARRE, S - Mississippi State University
item MINCHEW, C - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: North American Journal of Aquaculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2008
Publication Date: 1/1/2009
Citation: Pearson, P.R., Small, B.C., Beecham, R.V., Sink, T., Labarre, S.B., Minchew, C.D. 2009. Effects of Loading Density on Golden Shiner Survival During and After Hauling. North American Journal of Aquaculture. 71:24-29.

Interpretive Summary: Four hauling trips of approximately 6 h each were conducted to investigate effects of loading density on survival of golden shiners Notemigomus crysoleucas. Commercially graded golden shiners (mean weight 3.3 g +/- 0.04 SE) were transported at densities of 120, 180, and 240 g fish/L in insulated hauling tanks filled with fresh well water, chilled with unchlorinated block ice, and aerated with pure oxygen. Water quality, stress levels, and survival during and after hauling were determined. The data from these experiments have been analyzed and the results published in a peer reviewed journal and presented at scientific meetings.

Technical Abstract: Four hauling trips of approximately 6 h each were conducted to investigate effects of loading density on survival of golden shiners Notemigonus crysoleucas. Commercially graded golden shiners (mean weight 3.3 g +/- 0.04 SE) were transported at densities of 120, 180, and 240 g fish/L in insulated hauling tanks filled with fresh well water, chilled with unchlorinated block ice, and aerated with pure oxygen. The criterion for determining success or failure was golden shiner survival. Transportation at a given density was deemed successful if survival both at trip's end and after 18 h post delivery was = 99%. At all three hauling densities evaluated, survival exceeded 99% both at trip’s end and 18 h post delivery. Furthermore, increasing loading density had no effect on whole-body cortisol concentrations, demonstrating no significant stress response. Un-ionized ammonia concentration increased with loading density, ranging from 0.05 to 0.46 mg/L, but had no effect on fish survival. Results of this study indicate golden shiners can be successfully (= 99% survival) transported for up to 6 h at 240 g fish/L in well water chilled with unchlorinated block ice and aerated with pure oxygen. Higher loading densities could mitigate the impact of escalating transport cost for commercial farmers.