Communications: Growth Comparison between Fingerling Walleyes and Walleye × Sanger Hybrids Reared in Intensive Culture

Abstract

We compared the performances of fingerling walleyes (Stizostedion vitreum) and F1 hybrids of walleye × sauger (Stizostedion canadense) reared in intensive culture for 73 d. The hybrids, “saugeyes”, were half-sibs of the walleyes. Fish were reared at 17.1 ± 0.9 and 20.8 ± 1.3°C (nominally 17 and 21°C) and fed a coolwater diet formula. Performance was evaluated on the basis of length, weight, growth, condition factor, feed conversion, and survival. Saugeyes performed better than walleyes for every variable at both temperatures. At 21°C, there were statistically significant (P < 0.05) differences between the walleyes and saugeyes for every variable. At 17°C, significant differences were found for length, weight, survival, and feed conversion. Both saugeyes and walleyes had better performance (P < 0.01) at 21 °C than at 17°C for every variable measured except walleye survival.