TRANSPORTATION OF ORNAMENTAL FISHES

Conditioning of ornamental fishes prior to packing Before transporting seeds to long distances in open or closed systems of transport, ornamental fishes should be conditioned in order to rid them off excreta and to ensure them to subsist in a restricted area in which they are inevitable liable to be subjected during transport.

Conditioning of ornamental fishes prior to packing – Contd… The most common method of conditioning is to store ornamental fishes in a cloth ‘hapa’ in ponds, or in still part of river or in tanks. The depth of water for a conditioning enclosure is to be maintained to a minimum of cm. The period of conditioning depends on the size and health of the spawn, fry and fingerlings. Clean and natural water at a temperature of  C is suitable for conditioning of ornamental fishes.

Conditioning of ornamental fishes prior to packing – Contd… During conditioning and transportation, ornamental fishes should not be handled with bare hands because the slime and scales covering the body will be removed and thereby render them vulnerable to fungal and bacterial infections. Ornamental fishes collected from the nurseries and kept in nets fixed in ponds on which water is splashed from all directions and the frightened fry pass excreta. After the ornamental fishes have been properly conditioned, they are ready for transport.

Method of packing in closed systems In this system, polythene bags of various sizes are used (40x25 cm; 40x18 cm; 60x30 cm). Polythene bags of 33-litre capacity measuring 74x46 cm and made of cm gauge material are widely used for transportation of ornamental fishes. In this method, the bag is first filled with 1/3 of its capacity (vol. of water and oxygen would be 1:3 ratio) with water (6-7 litres). Then, the bag is inflated with oxygen upto about 2/3 from an oxygen cylinder.

Method of packing in closed systems – Contd… The upper cm of the bag is twisted bend and tied securely with string with leak proof knot, which will not open by itself during transport. It is generally advisable to keep each plastic bag individually in containers of cardboard or metal or wooden boxes to prevent leakage by inadvertent damage to the bag during transport. The mortality is found to maximum of 5%.

Preparing fishes  Acclimated for 48 hrs. Fishes are starved during transport  Well aerated water dissolved with the following chemicals:  5% Methylene blue (10 drops in 50 lit. of water)  0.01% of common salt solution (10 mg of sodium chloride dissolved in 100 ml of water)  Epson salt (2 teaspoonful of this salt dissolved in 50 lit.)  Tetracycline (500 mg dissolved in 50 lit. of water)

Preparing fishes – Contd… Previously well-fed and 4 hour starved fish could withstand rigorous packing and air transport. Tranquilizers like quinaldine or paraldehyde can be used in mild concentration (see table) to reduce the activity of the fishes.

Methods of sedation Prior to anaesthetization and transport, healthy ornamental fishes are collected from the rearing tank and are kept under starvation for 24 hours in aerated waters. The desired concentrations of anesthesia are prepared well in advance for use for sedating the fish under transport.

Sedation The exact time (in seconds) taken by the fish for loosing balance partially or completely is known as induction time. The subsequent behavioural changes especially to time (in seconds) in which the respiratory movement became irregular are considered as ‘reflex activity’. The period prevailing between the induction time and reflex activity is considered as ‘anesthetic period’. When the fishes show imbalance in a particular anesthetic concentration, they are carefully removed and are transferred to a glass tank (30x15x30cm) containing aerated water for test purposes.

Sedation – Contd… The fishes are acclimatized for stocking in the production tank as indicated below: When the fish are transported in the transportation bag for long periods of time, it is made sure that there is more air than water in the bag. When the fish are transported in the transportation bag for long periods of time, it is made sure that there is more air than water in the bag. Before introducing the fish to their new home, it is required to place the fish transport bag into the tank with the opening facing upwards Before introducing the fish to their new home, it is required to place the fish transport bag into the tank with the opening facing upwards The mouth of the bag has to be opened and the edge folded down. The open bag will float in the water. The mouth of the bag has to be opened and the edge folded down. The open bag will float in the water.

Sedation – Contd… Over a period of fifteen minutes, small quantities of water is poured slowly from the ornamental fish tank into the bag two to three times till the original contents of the bag is replaced. Over a period of fifteen minutes, small quantities of water is poured slowly from the ornamental fish tank into the bag two to three times till the original contents of the bag is replaced. After about 30 minutes, the fishes are taken out gently and put into the tank water. The transport water should not be poured into the fish tank. After about 30 minutes, the fishes are taken out gently and put into the tank water. The transport water should not be poured into the fish tank.

Basis for estimating number of seedfish for transportation The number of seedfish to be put in a closed and oxygen packed container for transport may vary according to the type and size of the seedfish, mode of transport, duration of transport and the environmental temperature.

Basis for estimating number of seedfish for transportation – Contd… A simple formula to find out the number of seedfish for transportation in containers with water but without oxygen is given below. (DO – 2) x V (DO – 2) x V N = C x h C x h Where, DO = dissolved oxygen in ambient water in ppm V = volume of water in litre V = volume of water in litre C = rate of oxygen consumption by individual seedfish C = rate of oxygen consumption by individual seedfish in mg/kg/hr in mg/kg/hr H = period of transportation in hours H = period of transportation in hours

Basis for estimating number of seedfish for transportation – Contd… For example, if the water volume is 30 litres and its ambient oxygen content is 8 ppm, weight of the individual seedfish, 1 mg, rate of oxygen consumption 200 mg/kg/hr, and the period of transport six house, the number of seedfish for transportation will be (8 – 2 x 30) (8 – 2 x 30) N = = x x 6