8080

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8080
• Author: Beard, J. M.
• Title: Pond Removal and Stocking Procedures of Razorback Suckers
• USFW Year: 1988a.
• Copyright Material: NO

temperature, dissolved oxygen, oxygen bottle pressure psi, liters of oxygen
per minute utilized, and fish mortality were maintained (Appendix). All of
the fish from pond #1 were put into a single tank. Prior to putting the fish
into this tank, dissolved oxygen readings indicated 6.0 parts per million
(ppm). Studies at salmonid hatcheries have shown that a dissolved oxygen
level of 4.5 ppm is considered lethal to fish. Within an hour, after the fish
were put in the tank, dissolved oxygen readings registered 3.2 ppm. This was
probably due to the larger sizes of these fish. It was at this point that the
oxygen bottle with regulator and air stone were set up. The entire time pond
#1 fish were in the tanks, September 1st through 14th, 1988, they were
maintained by the oxygen bottle. Fish from pond #3 were held in tanks from
September 16th through 23rd, 1988. In contrast, it was found that when fish
from pond #3 were put into the tank, the oxygen bottle was not needed. This
was presumably due to the smaller sizes of these fish. Again, all of the fish
from pond #3 were originally put into a single tank. The only time any of the
fish from ponds #1 or #3 were put into another tank was during their weighing,
measuring, and fin-clipping., All tanks which were utilized, were drained,
disinfected with a solution of 3% formalin for several hours, rinsed out,
refilled with water, and allowed to sit for 24 hours with water circulation,
prior to the insertion of any fish. At no time was there any tank mortality
of pond #1 fish. A total of 11 pond #3 fish died in the tanks between
September 16th and 23rd, 1988. This again is presumably due to the respective
sizes of the fish. While interned in the tanks, both pond #1 and #3 fish were
occasionally fed a diet of #3 trout chow, which was readily consumed.
(Note: CRFP owns both a oxygen bottle and regulator. The liter per minute
gauge is extremely difficult to keep set at a desired level. This resulted in
a wide fluctuation of dissolved oxygen readings. Also each oxygen bottle
replacement (rental) had a different length of life with this regulator.
Eventually another regulator was rented for transporting fish to the stock
site. This regulator was designed for medical uses with oxygen bottles and
was quite efficient in keeping liter per minute levels law and constant.)
Measuring, Weighing, and Fin-clipping
Individual total lengths for all of the fish were taken using a metric
measuring board and recorded in millimeters. All fish were weighed on a 1,000
x 2 gram platform scale. Pond #1 fish were all weighed individually. Pond #3
fish were all weighed in lots of 20 fish, the exception being one lot of 11
fish. All fish that were weighed and measured, were also fin-clipped. Fin-
clipping involved removing the right pelvic fin at it's insertion with the
body of the fish, using heavy duty cuticle clippers or sewing scissors. No
antibiotic solutions or anesthesia were utilized. Fish were simply removed
from one tank into a 25 gallon (gal) container, weighed, measured, and fin-
clipped, then put into a different tank, separate from those fish that had yet
to have gone through the process.
Transport to Stocking Sites
Transportation to the stockuig sites involved removal of both fish and
heated water from the same indoor tank, via 5 gal. bucket, to a 100 gallon
portable transport tank setup in the bed of a pickup truck. An oxygen bottle,
regulator, and air stone were setup to circulate oxygen throughout the tank
during transit. The regulator was set to circulate the oxygen at a rate of 1