densities for long distance air transport of fingerlings

From: GlenPagelson@ardom.ardom.co.il
To: AQUA-L@killick.ifmt.nf.ca
Sent: 13 March 2001

QUESTION:

I have a question about live fish transport of marine fingerlings, specifically warm water species like gilthead seabream and European seabass. How many fish of 1-2 gram can be packed into boxes for a 24 hour air transport? I’m assuming about 5 liters of water and 10 liters of oxygen.

Glen Pagelson
E-mail : GlenPagelson@ardom.ardom.co.il

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COMMENTS 1 :

Very much a temperature-dependent issue, and often water quality, not oxygen, becomes the limiting factor. Make sure fish have been purged. I have taken 1g red drum fingerlings, stocked them at 400g/7 liters with about 7 liters of oxygen, chilled them with ice around the bags down to about 10C, a few drops of sedative and shipped with 100 % survival at 30 - 35 hours. Best is to test small batches on site, close them up as if you are shipping, rock them a bit once in a while to simulate shipping, and open boxes at varying times to see where mortalities begin. Try to chill as much as possible, temperature is your greatest nemesis.

Michael H. Schwarz
Aquaculture Specialist
Virginia Polytechnic Institute

Seafood Research and Extension
102 S. King Street
Hampton, VA 23669 USA
Phone: 1-757-727-4861
Fax: 1-757-727-4871
email: mschwarz@vt.edu

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COMMENTS 2:

What about salinity? And can you recommend a sedative?

Gerrit Quantz
E-mail : butt.fischfarm@t-online.de

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COMMENTS 3:

By far the most efficacious and best sedative for transporting fish is
Metomidate.

Richard Bradshaw
E-mail: info@syndel.com

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