A preliminary study on the effects on growth, condition, and feeding indexes in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, after the prophylactic use of potassium permanganate and oxytetracycline

The prophylactic use of potassium permanganate (KMnO4) and oxytetracycline and its effects on catfish growth were assessed. For eleven weeks, healthy channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, juveniles were exposed to KMnO4 and oxytetracycline. KMnO4-treated fish were exposed to 1 ppm twice a week for 1 h, while oxytetracycline-treated fish received a 50 mg/kg dose in the feed (35 fish per tank, two tanks per treatment). Assessed parameters included body weight and length, specific growth rate (SGR), feed intake (FI), condition, and feed conversion index (FCI). Potassium permanganate did not have a suppressive effect on growth, while oxytetracycline significantly enhanced growth on channel catfish (weight and length), as they were heavier (12.5%) than KMnO4-treated fish and controls at the end of the trial. SGR (%/d), FI, and FCI were not significantly different (P > 0.05) among the three groups of fish. Condition index (K) was significantly higher (ANOVA, P < 0.05) in the oxytetracycline-treated fish. The present study suggests that, at concentrations commonly used in aquaculture, exposure of healthy channel catfish to oxytetracycline enhanced growth, while KMnO4 does not induce growth suppression.