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Common name: Hybrid striped bass, sunshine bass, palmetto bass, wipper
Scientific name: Morone saxatilis x M. chrysops or M. chrysops x M. saxatilis
Production potential: Moderate
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Spawns late March to May. Cross made with either female white bass and male striped bass (sunshine bass), or with female striped bass and male white bass (palmetto bass). Female striped bass average 100,000 eggs/lb. body weight (25,000 eggs per ounce of spawn) and white bass females average 50,000 eggs/lb. body weight (100,000 eggs per spawn). Eggs hatch in two to five days. Survival of fry is low, less than 50%.
Most common production systems: Ponds, recycle systems, and cages
Common name: Largemouth bass
Scientific name: Micropterus salmoides
Production potential: Moderate
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Spawning runs from spring through summer when temperature is 60°F to 65°F. Nest layers producing 1,300 eggs/lb. body weight. Eggs hatch in approximately four days.
Most common production systems: Ponds for spawning and grow-out to food size. Small fingerlings are normally removed from ponds and trained to accept commercial diets using flow-through systems.
Common name: Bluegill
Scientific name: Lepomis macrochirus
Production potential: Easy
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Spring spawners, nest builders, 50,000 eggs/lb. body weight
Most common production systems: Ponds
Common name: Black bullhead
Scientific name: Ictalurus melas
Production potential: Easy
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Spawning occurs between mid-May and July. Females build nests and the male guards the nest after the first day. Females may produce 2,500-3,800 eggs per fish. Eggs hatch in 5-10 days.
Most common production systems: Ponds and cages. Ponds stocked at 2,000 fingerlings per acre. Cages stocked at 8-10 fingerlings per cubic foot.
Common name: Common carp
Scientific name: Cyprinus carpio
Production potential: Easy
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Spawning occurs in the spring and females produce 60,000 eggs/lb. body weight. Eggs hatch in 2-7 days.
Most common production systems: Ponds
Common name: Grass carp
Scientific name: Ctenopharyngodon idella
Production potential: Difficult
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Fish become sexually mature in 2-3 years in the south and 4-6 years in the north. In the wild, grass carp are riverine spawners and spawn in the spring when temperatures reach 68-72°F. In aquaculture, grass carp are spawned in tanks or hand stripped and the fertilized eggs incubated in McDonnell jars. Spawning is induced using carp pituitary or gonadotropins. Mature females may produce 500,000-800,000 eggs that can hatch in 18-28 hours.
Most common production systems: Ponds. At 120,000 fry per acre, it takes approximately one month to reach 2 inches. Stocked at rate of 35,000 fry per acre, it takes 130-150 days to reach 5 inches.
Common name: Blue catfish
Scientific name: Ictalurus furcatus
Production potential: Moderate
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Annual spring spawners that lay eggs in cavities at a rate of 3,000-4,000 eggs/lb. body weight. Eggs hatch in 7-8 days at 78°F. There is considerable interest in hybrids produced from channel catfish and blue catfish.
Most common production systems: Ponds and cages. Ponds stocked at a rate of 2,000-4,000 4-to 8- inch fingerlings per acre. Cages are stocked at a rate of 6-10 fish per cubic foot.
Common name: Channel catfish
Scientific name: Ictalurus punctatus
Production potential: Easy
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Annual spring spawners that lay eggs in cavities at a rate of 3,000-4,000 eggs/lb. body weight. Eggs hatch in 7-8 days at 78°F.
Most common production systems: Ponds and cages. Ponds stocked at a rate of 2,000-4,000 4- to 8- inch fingerlings per acre. Cages are stocked at a rate of 6-10 fish per cubic foot.
Common name: Northern crayfish
Scientific name: Orconectes virilis
Production potential: Easy
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Northern crayfish spawn from March to May. Females lay from 200-500 eggs, which hatch in 3 to 10 days.
Most common production systems: Ponds are stocked with 60 lb. of broodfish per acre in the spring. Reproduction occurs during the spring and the new crop of crayfish are large enough to harvest in the fall.
Common name: Red swamp crayfish
Scientific name: Procambarus clarkii
Production potential: Easy
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: The peak of the breeding season usually occurs in May and June but may occur at other times of the year depending on temperature and other water conditions. The sperm is viable for at least eight months. Red swamp crayfish eggs hatch in 14-21 days, depending on temperature. Crayfish of the desired species are present in the area; 40-60 pounds are stocked per surface acre of water.
Most common production systems: Ponds. Crayfish are grown in combination with rice.
Common name: Red drum
Scientific name: Sciaenops ocellatus
Production potential: Moderate in southern climates
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Spawning occurs in September through October. Females may produce 500,000 eggs annually that float in the water column. Eggs hatch in 18-25 hours depending on water temperature. Salinities of water for broodfish should be around 30 ppt.
Most common production systems: Ponds stocked at rate of 2,000-4,000 per acre.
Common name: Yellow perch, lake perch
Scientific name: Perca flavescens
Production potential: Moderate, due to slow growth of males
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Fish spawn in the spring when water temperatures reach 50°F. Eggs are contained within a gelatinous ribbon. A 0.5 lb. female will produce 10,000-20,000 eggs. Eggs hatch in approximately two weeks at 53°F. Spawns may be obtained by stripping eggs from ripe females and thoroughly mixing with milt from males in a dry container. Water is added to activate the sperm and permit fertilization.
Most common production systems: Ponds stocked at 200,000-300,000 fry per acre for production of 3- to 5- inch fingerlings. Fingerlings are stocked at 2,000 per acre for production of food size fish.
Common name: Atlantic salmon
Scientific name: Salmo salar
Production potential: Easy
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Spring spawners, 800 eggs/lb. body weight
Most common production systems: Raceways and net pens
Common name: Coho salmon
Scientific name: Oncorhynchus kisutch
Production potential: Easy
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Spawn once in life then die; 400 eggs/lb. body weight
Most common production systems: Raceways and pens
Common name: Freshwater shrimp
Scientific name: Macrobrachium rosenbergii
Production potential: Difficult
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Around 12 ppt salinity is required for spawning. Females spawn in freshwater and lay 10,000-50,000 eggs per spawn, 4-5 times per year when water temperatures are above 69°F. Eggs are attached to the pleopods of females 6-20 hrs. following mating. Eggs hatch in approximately 19 days when the water temperature is above 82°F. Newly hatched larvae must return to salt water where they will undergo 11 molts in approximately 35 days. At this stage, they are post larvae and are 7-10 mm. in length and resemble adults. Post larvae are cannibalistic and omnivorous. Once the postl arvae reach 0.1-0.3 grams, they are at the juvenile stage with a body color of blue to brown. The time to a juvenile stage is from 60-90 days. Adult shrimp are marketable at 2-3 ounces (40-70 grams).
Most common production systems: Ponds. The interest in prawn production in Indiana and Illinois is from the juvenile to the adult stage. Juveniles grow best at 84-88°F, but will survive temperatures between 57-95°F. Juveniles can be stocked in the spring when water temperatures reach 68°F at a rate of 40,000 per hectare (16,187 per acre). Ponds should be fertilized to obtain a zooplankton bloom; and once they reach 5 grams, may be fed a sinking 32% fish feed. Prawns are harvested when water temperatures drop to 68°F. Survival varies widely, but should be between 50-90%.
Common name: Hybrid sunfish; is commonly the cross between the female green sunfish and the male bluegill
Scientific name: Lepomis cyanellus x Lepomis macrochirus
Production potential: Easy
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Spring spawners, nest builders, 50,000 eggs/lb. body weight
Most common production systems: Ponds
Common name: Tilapia
Scientific name: Oreochromis niloticus, O. aureaus, O. mossambicus, O. hornorum
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Maternal mouthbrooders, spawn twice a month, 2,500 eggs/lb. body weight, eggs hatch in 5-7 days. All male hybrids can be produced by crossing female O. niloticus and male O. aureaus. Or by crossing female O. niloticus and male O. hornorum. Stocking ratios for fingerling production is three females to each male.
Most common production systems: Food fish stock ponds at 1500-3,000 fish per acre. Food fish production in cages stock 6-10 fish per cubic foot. Stocking densities in recycle systems depend on the quality of the filtration used. However, at harvest a goal of 0.5-1.5 lbs. per gallon is desired.
Common name: Rainbow trout
Scientific name: Oncorhynchus mykiss
Production potential: Easy
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Spring and fall spawning strains which produce 500-10,000 eggs depending on size of female. Eggs hatch in 24-31 days at 50-55°F.
Most common production systems: Raceways and net pens
Common name: Walleye
Scientific name: Stitzostedion vitreum
Production potential: Moderate for fingerlings, difficult for food size due to their cannibalistic nature
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Broodfish produce 30,000 eggs/lb. body weight. Spawns may be obtained by stripping eggs from ripe females and mixing thoroughly with milt from males in a dry container. Water is added to activate the sperm and permit fertilization. Eggs hatch in about 10 days at 44-55°F.
Most common production systems: Fingerlings are produced in fertilized ponds stocked at 100,000-150,000 fry per acre. Food fish may be produced in ponds or cages if cannibalism is prevented by grading to maintain a uniform size.
Common name: Smallmouth bass
Scientific name: Micropterus dolomieui
Production potential: Easy for fingerlings. Difficult for food size.
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Nest layer, 8,000 eggs/lb. body weight
Most common production systems: Ponds
Common name: Red ear sunfish (Shellcracker)
Scientific name: Lemois microlopus
Production potential: Easy
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Spawning starts at 75°F and is retarded at temperatures below 70°F. Males construct and guard nests, usually in colonies with other males. Females may produce 15,000-30,000 eggs per spawn.
Most common production systems: Ponds
Common name: Goldfish. The comet variety is the most common type of goldfish, but there have been many other varieties developed, such as black moors, calico, koi, and shubunkins.
Scientific name: Carassius auratus
Production potential: Easy
Marketing potential:
Temperature Requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Spawns repeatedly from May to June, eggs hatch in 2-8 days, 50,000 eggs/lb. body weight. The primary method used is the egg transfer method. In this method the broodstock spawn on spawning mats placed in shallow water along the shore. When mats are covered with eggs, they are moved to rearing ponds.
Most common production systems: Ponds. Small ponds, 0.25-1.0 acre, for spawning and larger ponds, 0.5-5 acres, for rearing of fry.
Common name: Fathead minnow (tuffy)
Scientific name: Pimephales promelas
Production potential: Moderate
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Spawns during cool periods in summer and sometimes in fall, eggs hatch in 5-6 days. Females lay from 200-500 eggs per spawn, and spawn repeatedly during spawning season. Two methods are used to produce fry. The first is the wild or free-spawning method, which 500-2,000 broodstock are stocked into ponds. Egg hatching and growing of young to marketable size occur in the same pond. The second method is the fry transfer method. In this method, 20,000-25,000 broodstock are stocked into ponds in a ratio of five females per male. Fry produced in either method are trapped and counted, then transferred to rearing ponds. In either method, rocks, tile, bricks, or boards are placed into ponds to provide spawning sites.
Most common production systems: Ponds. Fry are stocked at a rate of 50,000-300,000 per acre.
Common name: Golden shiner
Scientific name: Notemigonus crysoleucas
Production potential: Easy
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Spawn from May-June, 75,000 eggs/lb. body weight. Eggs hatch in 4-9 days at 70-85°F. Three methods are used to produce fry. The first is the wild or free-spawning method in which 20-40 pounds of broodstock are left to spawn in ponds. Egg hatching and growing of young to marketable size occur in the same pond. The second method is the egg transfer method. In this method the broodstock spawn on spawning mats placed in shallow water along the shore. When mats are covered with eggs, they are moved to rearing ponds. The final method is the fry transfer method. In this method, fry produced from either wild spawning or the egg transfer method are trapped and counted, then transferred to rearing ponds.
Most common production systems: Ponds. Fry are stocked at a rate of 50,000-300,000 per acre.
Common name: White sucker
Scientific name: Catostomus commersoni
Production potential: Easy
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Males congregate over spawning areas, pressing against the sides of females. Spawning is most active at dusk and dawn. Adult females produce around 30,000 eggs and randomly scatter them over the substrate. Sucker migrate upstream to spawn (sucker runs) when water temperatures are between 45-59°F. Eggs will hatch in 4-6 days at 65°F and 10-15 days at 50-60°F but will not hatch lower than 50°F. Eggs hatched at 50-60°F are healthier and hardier than those hatched at other temperatures.
Most common production systems: Ponds
Common name: Angelfish
Scientific name: Pterphyllum scalare
Production potential: Moderate
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Once broodfish start to exhibit courtship behavior, they are transferred to an 80 liter spawning tank. Females spawn on a vertical substrate such as a slate tile. Eggs are adhesive and will hatch in two days at 82°F. Each female may lay up to 200 eggs per female every 7 to 14 days. First feeding using newly hatched brine shrimp can begin five days after hatching. After fertilization, the slate with attached eggs is placed in a 3 to 5 gallon aquarium containing enough methylene blue to give a dark blue color. An air stone should be placed underneath the slate to provide circulation. After hatching one-half of the aquarium, water should be replaced each day so by the time the fry are free-swimming, the water is only slightly blue.
Most common production systems: Recycle systems, ponds. When the fry are free-swimming, they should be transferred to an aerated 15 gallon aquarium at 300 fry per aquarium. The aquarium should have a water depth of approximately 4 inches and be filtered with a sponge filter. The shallow water depth facilitates the feeding of the fry. When the fry are approximately 0.6 inches in diameter, they should be transferred to a 30 to 55 gallon aquarium with aeration and filtration. Fry should grow to a marketable size in 6 to 8 weeks.
Common name: Suckermouth catfish
Scientific name: Hypostomus plecostomus
Production potential: Moderate
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Females are sexually mature after two years. Females burrow into the pond bank (cavity spawners) and lay around 250 eggs per spawn.
Most common production systems: Ponds and tanks
Common name: Discus
Scientific name: Symphysodon discus and Symphysodon aequifasciatus
Production potential: Moderate
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Once broodfish start to exhibit courtship behavior, they are transferred to an 80 liter spawning tank. Females spawn on a vertical substrate such as a slate tile. Eggs are adhesive and will hatch in two days at 82°F. Each female may lay up to 200 eggs per female every 7 to 14 days. First feeding using newly hatched brine shrimp can begin five days after hatching. After fertilization, the slate with attached eggs is placed in a 3 to 5 gallon aquarium containing enough methylene blue to give a dark blue color. An air stone should be placed underneath the slate to provide circulation. After hatching one-half of the aquarium, water should be replaced each day so by the time the fry are free-swimming, the water is only slightly blue. Discus are extremely sensitive to poor water quality and require a near neutral pH and hardness levels less than 80 mg./l.
Most common production systems: Recycle systems, ponds. When the fry are free-swimming, they should be transferred to an aerated 15 gallon aquarium at 300 fry per aquarium. The aquarium should have a water depth of approximately 4 inches and be filtered with a sponge filter. The shallow water depth facilitates the feeding of the fry. When the fry are approximately 0.6 inches in diameter, they should be transferred to a 30 to 55 gallon aquarium with aeration and filtration. Fry should grow to a marketable size in 6 to 8 weeks.
Common name: Guppy
Scientific name: Lebistes reticulatus
Production potential: Easy
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Live bearer that can give birth to 200 young. Females become sexually mature in about three weeks.
Most common production systems: Recycle systems and ponds
Common name: Koi
Scientific name: Cyprinus carpio
Production potential: Easy
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Koi spawn in the spring and female produce 60,000 eggs/lb. body weight. Eggs hatch in 2-7 days.
Most common production systems: Ponds
Common name: Molly
Scientific name: Several species of live bearers in the family Poecillidae including Platypoecilus mentalis (Black molly) and Poecilla velifera (Sailfin molly).
Production potential: Easy
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Female mollies mature in 3-4 months and bear approximately 10 fry every two weeks. To prevent the adults from eating their offspring, cover for the fry must be provided.
Most common production systems: Ponds and aquaria.
Common name: Oscar, velvet cichlid
Scientific name: Astronotus ocellatus
Production potential: Easy
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Females will produce 1,000-2,000 eggs, which are laid onto a rock substrate.
Most common production systems: Ponds and recycle systems
Common name: Swordtail
Scientific name: Xiphophrus hellerii
Production potential: Easy
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Live bearer that can give birth to 200 young. Females become sexually mature in about three weeks.
Most common production systems: Ponds and recycle systems
Common name: Tetra and other species in the family Characidae (Characins)
Scientific name: Paracheirondon innesi (Common neon tetra) and Paracheirondon axelrodi (Cardinal tetra)
Production potential: Moderate
Marketing potential:
Temperature requirements:
Feed requirements:
Spawning requirements: Female may lay up to 150-300 eggs per spawn onto a perlon mat. Adults are removed. Fry hatch after 24 hours. and fry swim up after five days.
Most common production systems: Tanks and aquaria