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A miniature hatching system for evaluating chemical treatments on fish eggs

Rach, J. J., Howe, G. E., and Schreier, T. M., 1995, A miniature hatching system for evaluating chemical treatments on fish eggs: Water Research, v. 29, no. 9, p. 2103-2107.

Abstract

We developed a miniature egg hatching system to evaluate chemical treatments on fish eggs. The system was designed to provide scientifically reproducable data according to good laboratory practices as opposed to other hatchery systems that are designed solely for fish production. A detailed explanation of the construction of this test apparatus is provided with insight into potential applications of the system in toxicology or water research. The test apparatus was composed of a headbox, miniaturized egg hatching jars, and glass aquaria. The test system was supplied with a continuous flow of well water that entered a headbox and then flowed by gravity to the egg hatching jars. A three-way stopcock valve located between the headbox and egg jars directed water from the headbox to the eggs or administered premixed chemical solutions during treatments. The effluent from the egg jars flowed into glass aquaria that collected hatched fry. The aquaria effluent flowed through a carbon filter treatment system. The miniaturized system is portable and can be used to culture or to conduct toxicological studies on early life stages of fish. Our test system was as efficient as larger-scale systems in culturing eggs and fry and will reduce the cost of evaluating therapeutants or toxicants in acute or chronic exposures.

Keywords: fish-eggs, hatching, chemical-control, hatcheries, aquaculture-equipment, fish-larvae, toxicology, toxicants, fungicides, chemcontrol, aquaculture, research-priorities, toxicity