Hormonal Sex Control of Largemouth Bass

Abstract

Abstract Experiments were conducted to determine the potential for controlling sex of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) by administration of steroid hormones (17β-estradiol, estrone, 17∝-methyltestosterone, and androsterone) in food to larvae. In one experiment, a commercial pelleted feed was soaked in hormone (50 or 100 mg/kg). In a second experiment, fish were fed live brine shrimp (Artemia gracilis) reared in culture media containing hormone (5 mg/L). Both methods were successful in masculinizing females, but only the live brine shrimp method was 100% successful in changing sex in either direction.