Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Allen, Peter J.

Committee Member

Mischke, Charles C.

Committee Member

Colvin, Michael E.

Date of Degree

5-4-2018

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Forest Resources

Department

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Abstract

Black Buffalo Ictiobus niger are a catostomid species native to the Mississippi River Basin with declining populations. Aquaculture is a common component of recovery plans, however little information is published on catostomid culture methods. This study developed culture techniques for Black Buffalo including tank acclimation, induced spawning, larval rearing, and protein requirements. Fish needed a lengthy acclimation (> 2 months) to reduce signs of stress. After, an induced-spawning protocol was described with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue. Swim-up fry did not readily consume zooplankton at first feeding but began selecting for cladocerans one week after stocked in a rearing pond. The juvenile growth study found diets containing 41% crude protein are optimal for growth. Finally, trematodes harm catfish production, and Black Buffalo are a potential control option for catfish producers. However, Black Buffalo did not consume snails, the trematode’s intermediate host, suggesting they would not be an effective trematode control.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/16919

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