7782

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7782
• Author: Toney, D. P.
• Title: Observations on the Propagation and Rearing of Two Endangered Fish Species in a Hatchery Environment
• USFW Year: 1974
• USFW - Doc Type: Proc. of the Western Association of State Game & Fish Committees
• Copyright Material: YES

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OBSERVATIONS ON THE PROPll.GATICN

and

REARING OF TWO ENDANGERED FISH SPECIES

IN A HATCHERY ENVIRONMENT

Donald P. Toney
Hatchery Manager

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Broodstock of Colorado squa\'Jfish Ptychocheilus l!:!E2Ys and fingerlings of
the Razorback sucker, Xyraucheo.. texanus (Abbott), are pr-esent I y bei 09 he) d d t
the Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery, Arizona. The squawfish is listed if,
the United States list of Endangered Fauna, ~lay 1974. The Razorback SlIcker'
has been listed as an endangered species by the States of California and
Nevada.

This preliminary repo~t is rather limited due
\ole have had these t\oJO speci e;:,unde~ observation.
treat each species separately.

to the short period of time
To avoid confusion, , will

Broodstock

Colorado Squawfish Ptychocheilus lucius

Eight squawfish \"ere o':>tained by netthg and shocking Op~ratic,,:; i;; t:'c
Yampa River, Colorado, during the last week of July 1973. These fish were
transferred to the Willow Beach Hatchery on July 31, 1973. Seven of the fish
were in good condition. The largest fish, a five and one-half pound female
obtained by shocking, had rapid opercular movement and difficulty in swirrming.
Swimming movements indicated probable damage to the spinal column. This fish
died four days later. Subsequent otolith readings indicate this fish \'/25
sixteen years old.

.tf..2.!E.ing Facilities

Our holding facihties for the squawfish consist of t~,o concrete racc\-Iays,
one hundred feet long by eight feet wide by thirty inches deep. These arc
connected to ~llow recirculation. Recirculation is necessary to obtain water
temperatures necessary for spawning. ,Actuaily, the fish Clrc held in one race-
way. Water is pumped from the adjacent raceway at approximately two hundred
gallons per minute. . ~!ater flows from the head end of the raceway to the lower
and exits to the lower cnd of the reservoir raCEway.

There are t~~ and a half inch valves at the head of each raceway to dllow
for the introduction of river water. This is periodical 1;' required to mainta~n

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