Bullminnow Bullminnow AquacultureAquaculture

Bullminnow AquacultureBullminnow Aquaculture Scientific NameScientific Name

– FundulusFundulus grandisgrandis Common NameCommon Name

– Gulf KillifishGulf Killifish Regional NamesRegional Names

– Bullminnow - AlabamaBullminnow - Alabama– Mudminnow - TexasMudminnow - Texas– Cocahoe Minnow - LouisianaCocahoe Minnow - Louisiana– Mummichogs - East Coast (Mummichogs - East Coast (F.F. heteroclitusheteroclitus))

Aquaculture Canidate?Aquaculture Canidate? AdvantagesAdvantages

– Popular live baitfish used to catch:Popular live baitfish used to catch: FlounderFlounder Speckled TroutSpeckled Trout RedfishRedfish

– PricePrice Wholesale -$70-$100/1000 or $7-10/lb.Wholesale -$70-$100/1000 or $7-10/lb. Retail -$1.50-$2.50/dozen or $12-20/lb.Retail -$1.50-$2.50/dozen or $12-20/lb.

Aquaculture Canidate?Aquaculture Canidate?– HardyHardy

Tolerates wide range of water Tolerates wide range of water quality.quality.

Handling stress is minimalHandling stress is minimal Low mortality at retail levelLow mortality at retail level Long-lasting on the hookLong-lasting on the hook

– Rapid growthRapid growth Spawn to Harvest - 2 to 6 monthsSpawn to Harvest - 2 to 6 months

Aquaculture Canidate?Aquaculture Canidate? DisadvantageDisadvantage

– Need large number of broodfish.Need large number of broodfish. Females produce a relatively low Females produce a relatively low

number of eggs compared to other number of eggs compared to other culture species.culture species.

– 10-200 eggs per spawn10-200 eggs per spawn– up to 1200 eggs per spawning seasonup to 1200 eggs per spawning season

Supply & DemandSupply & Demand Demand >>> SupplyDemand >>> Supply

– April, May, JuneApril, May, June Demand>SupplyDemand>Supply

– July, Aug, SepJuly, Aug, Sep Trapping Supply UndependableTrapping Supply Undependable

Bullminnow Bullminnow CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Estuarine residentEstuarine resident– Shallow waters of oyster bars, tidal creeks, Shallow waters of oyster bars, tidal creeks,

saltmarhes pools, and bayous.saltmarhes pools, and bayous. SexesSexes

– Females - uniform greenish silver, darkening Females - uniform greenish silver, darkening from bottom to top.from bottom to top.

– Males - Darker green with prominent gold Males - Darker green with prominent gold speckling. Black patch ventrally along gill speckling. Black patch ventrally along gill flap when ready to spawn. flap when ready to spawn.

Bullminnow Bullminnow CharacteristicsCharacteristics

SpawningSpawning– External fertilizationExternal fertilization– Fractional spawnersFractional spawners– Exhibit semilunar spawning cyclesExhibit semilunar spawning cycles– Adhesive eggs Adhesive eggs – Eggs will develop out of water in humid conditionsEggs will develop out of water in humid conditions– Spawning above 68Spawning above 68ooF (20F (20ooC)C)– Spawn March to OctoberSpawn March to October– Peak spawn - March and April Peak spawn - March and April – Minor peak- late August to early SeptemberMinor peak- late August to early September

Bullminnow EggsBullminnow Eggs

Important considerationsImportant considerations Water qualityWater quality

– Salinity (single most important factor)Salinity (single most important factor) >=5 >=5 oo//oooo for efficient growth and for efficient growth and

production.production.– Dissolved oxygenDissolved oxygen

Generally above 4.0mg/LGenerally above 4.0mg/L

Important considerationsImportant considerations Pond designPond design

– Small size (1/4 acre) or narrow for Small size (1/4 acre) or narrow for easy seining.easy seining.

– Average depth - 1 meter.Average depth - 1 meter.– Smooth bottom for seining.Smooth bottom for seining.– Graded for complete drainage.Graded for complete drainage.– Catch basin for harvest.Catch basin for harvest.– Free of aquatic vegetation.Free of aquatic vegetation.

Production systemsProduction systems Three-pond systemThree-pond system

– Brood PondBrood Pond– Hatching PondHatching Pond– Grow-out PondGrow-out Pond

Brood PondBrood Pond Stock brood fish in January at Stock brood fish in January at

10,000 fish/acre.10,000 fish/acre. 2:1 females:male.2:1 females:male. Feed high-protein feed at 3% body Feed high-protein feed at 3% body

weight per day.weight per day. Add spawning mats when water Add spawning mats when water

temperature reaches 68temperature reaches 68ooF (20F (20ooC).C).

Spawning MatsSpawning Mats Place in shallow water at pond edges.Place in shallow water at pond edges. Use PVC trellis to keep spawning mat Use PVC trellis to keep spawning mat

above bottom.above bottom. Remove after 1 week.Remove after 1 week. Estimate eggs.Estimate eggs. Transfer to Hatching Pond.Transfer to Hatching Pond. Limit transfer to 2 week period for Limit transfer to 2 week period for

uniform fry size.uniform fry size.

Hatching PondHatching Pond Stock with 1.5 million eggs/acre.Stock with 1.5 million eggs/acre. Eggs will hatch in 2 to 3 weeks.Eggs will hatch in 2 to 3 weeks. Expect 1 to 1.2 million fry.Expect 1 to 1.2 million fry. Feed high-protein minnow feed at Feed high-protein minnow feed at

5lb/acre/day.5lb/acre/day. Stock fry to grow-out ponds when Stock fry to grow-out ponds when

they reach 0.5 grams or 1000fish/lb. they reach 0.5 grams or 1000fish/lb.

Grow-out PondGrow-out Pond Stock fry at a rate of 50,000 to 200,000 Stock fry at a rate of 50,000 to 200,000

fish/acre.fish/acre. Stocking rate dependent on market Stocking rate dependent on market

timing.timing. Feed 10% of stocked weight/day for 10 Feed 10% of stocked weight/day for 10

days, feed 5% body weight there after.days, feed 5% body weight there after. Sample fish every 2 weeks and adjust Sample fish every 2 weeks and adjust

feed accordingly.feed accordingly.

Production systemsProduction systems Two-pond systemTwo-pond system

– Brood PondBrood Pond– Hatch and Grow-out PondHatch and Grow-out Pond

HarvestHarvest Harvest at approximately 4-5 grams Harvest at approximately 4-5 grams

or 100/lbor 100/lb Market dependentMarket dependent Partial HarvestPartial Harvest

– TrapTrap– SeineSeine

Complete HarvestComplete Harvest– DrainDrain

Post-Harvest Post-Harvest Place fish in holding tank for 24 hr Place fish in holding tank for 24 hr

without feed.without feed.– Get accurate weights and counts.Get accurate weights and counts.– Recover from handling stress.Recover from handling stress.– Purge gut contents which minimizes Purge gut contents which minimizes

water fouling during transport.water fouling during transport.

Delivery or Pick-up?Delivery or Pick-up? Survey of bait dealers suggest they Survey of bait dealers suggest they

would pay the same price for pick-up would pay the same price for pick-up or delivery.or delivery.– Cost savings to wholesaler if the bait Cost savings to wholesaler if the bait

dealer picks-up his fish.dealer picks-up his fish. Fuel costFuel cost Labor costLabor cost Liability for the productLiability for the product Concentrate efforts on harvest and supplyConcentrate efforts on harvest and supply

Recirculating Systems?Recirculating Systems? More controlMore control Less water requiredLess water required Smaller space requirementsSmaller space requirements Automation of feedingAutomation of feeding Ease of sampling and harvestEase of sampling and harvest Potentially less predation loss from Potentially less predation loss from

birdsbirds Capital intenseCapital intense

Recirculating systems?Recirculating systems?