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Ammonia in Aquatic Systems

, Ruth Francis-Floyd, , andDeborah Pouder


Release Date: 12/14/2023

Reviewed At: 11/25/2021

DOI: 10.32473/edis-fa031-2022

Agriculture

Abstract

Management of ammonia, the primary waste product of fish, is critical to fish health, especially in intensive systems. At low concentrations, ammonia causes stress and damages gills and other tissues. Fish exposed to low levels of ammonia over time are more susceptible to bacterial infections, have poor growth, and do not tolerate routine handling well. At higher concentrations, it will kill fish. Many unexplained production losses have likely been caused by ammonia.

About this Publication

This document is FA16, one of a series of the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date May 1990. Revised February 2009 and June 2022. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication.

How to Cite

Francis-Floyd, R., Watson, C., Petty, D., & Pouder, D. (2022). Ammonia in Aquatic Systems. EDIS, 2022(4). https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-fa031-2022

Authors

Craig Watson
Craig Watson

director (retired), Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program, UF/IFAS Extension Tropical Aquaculture Lab, Ruskin, FL

Ruth Francis-Floyd
Ruth Francis-Floyd
Specialist
University of Florida

professor and UF/IFAS Extension veterinarian, UF College of Veterinary Medicine and School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program

Denise Petty
Denise Petty

former clinical assistant professor, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, UF College of Veterinary Medicine and aquaculture Extension veterinarian, UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences

Deborah Pouder
Deborah Pouder
staff
University of Florida

coordinator of research programs and services, diagnostic lab manager, School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program, UF/IFAS Extension Tropical Aquaculture Lab, Ruskin, FL

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Publication #FA16

Peer Reviewed