Persistency of Hot Brands and Their Effects on Growth and Survival of Fingerling Channel Catfish

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Abstract
Fingerling channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were hot branded at 20 and 30 weeks of age (mean weights, 6.7 and 26.5 g, respectively). Of the fish branded at 20 weeks of age, 97% retained readable brands for 20 weeks; of those branded at 30 weeks, 96% retained readable brands for 18 weeks. When the fingerlings of each group were compared with unbranded controls at 54 weeks of age, no significant differences were found in percent survival. At this age, the fingerlings branded at 20 weeks weighed significantly less than did the controls. No difference was found between fingerlings branded at 30 weeks and their controls. Channel catfish reared in warm-water, high-density culture systems should probably be branded no earlier than 30 weeks (or a mean weight of about 27 g). They should be rebranded no later than 16 weeks after the initial branding.

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