Crowded hatch baskets prevented water from circulating as it should through the egg masses, keeping them healthy. Bacteria can grow on the shell of the catfish egg and disintegrate the eggshell so the embryo has no protection. Typically these embryos that are not fully developed fall through the hatching baskets and die. Steeby encourages producers to inspect egg masses by look and feel twice daily for bacterial problems and once a day for fungal problems. A healthy egg mass has a rubbery, latex feel like a wet rubber glove.
Egg masses with a white cotton or dirty look typically have a fungal problem.
Many bacterial problems can be prevented or treated with a twice daily iodine wash. This wash is similar to a surgical scrub, but without soap, and is applied to the hatching water. Fungal problems can be treated with either an iodine or salt wash. The cost of these treatments are very low, but effective and necessary. If our problems are not controlled or we don't pay attention, that could drop easily to 50 percent.