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LABORATORY CULTURE METHODS FOR THE MOTTLED SCULPIN (COTTUS BAIRDI)
Citation:
Jenson, J. J., K. G. Lott, D. E. Nessa, H. A. Kitterman, T D. Dawson, AND C E. Stephan. LABORATORY CULTURE METHODS FOR THE MOTTLED SCULPIN (COTTUS BAIRDI). Presented at American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, Madison, WI, August 22-26, 2004.
Description:
Fish from the family Cottidae (Sculpin Family) are being researched to determine their sensitivity to various metals in freshwater systems. The ability to culture them in the lab would facilitate species sensitivity comparisons. We collected adult mottled sculpins (C. bairdi) from area streams, had them spawn in the laboratory, and used the fry to establish a full-life-cycle culture. We collected 100 adult, sexually mature mottled sculpins from the Lester River, Duluth, Minnesota in April of 2003. Two females and one male were set up in twelve 10-gallon aquariums; water temperature and photoperiod matched that of the Lester River. We used various substrates to stimulate spawning. All females deposited eggs over the next two weeks. Methods were developed to successfully hatch the eggs and rear the young to adult stage. Experiments were also run to try to induce spawning through manipulation of temperature and photoperiod. A summary of the methods developed are presented.