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Abstract
The present study was designed to determine the optimal level of calcium hardness in hatching waters to incubate channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus × blue catfish I. furcatus hybrid catfish eggs. Hatching success of hybrid catfish eggs was higher (P < 0.05) at a calcium hardness (CaCO3) of 75 mg/L in hatching waters than at a calcium hardness of 25 or 50 mg/L; however, further increases in calcium concentration did not improve hatching success. A minimum water hardness of CaCO3 at 75 mg/L is recommended for incubating hybrid catfish eggs.
Received September 13, 2011; accepted November 22, 2011
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors wish to acknowledge the technical assistance of Carl D. Jeffers of U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service Catfish Genetics Research Unit. We also thank our colleagues Brian Peterson, Brian Bosworth, and Charles Mischke (Mississippi State University) for comments and review of early manuscripts. Mention of trade names or commercial products is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.