Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Rotenone

I have this link Rotenone that looks like it sells Rotenone to anyone. Would I be ok with buying it and just appying it to a 1/8th acre pond myself? I was quote for someone to come out but they quoted me $400.00 if they only needed 1 gallon, but $500.00 if they needed an additional gallon. Not too sure, but that seems a little steep for a chemical that cost $35 for 32 oz. bottle. Tell me guys, what do you think??

I did not see the rotenone on that link, but it is a registered use pesticide and they can not ship without your permit number. It is priced thsi way I assuem due to time in driving to your pond then applying the chemical as you can see only charing an additonal $100 if they need another gallon. If $35/32 ozs that is $140/gallon. So as you can see they are getting paid for their time in application and gas. Pricing seems very fair depending on your location.

What dose it take to get a permit number?

You have to be a registered herbicide applicator (you have to tke a test).

In Texas you take three tests 100 questions each. One on Law, one on General Pesticide Application, and then the Specialty Area. In my case it was a Commercial, Aquatic Applicator's License. Then the licnese renewal fee has to be paid every year in Texas (states vary and is cheaper for Non Commercial) and you must earn Continuing Education Units (CEU) every year (states vary) to keep your license up to date. Is the test easy - That depends on one's ability to learn and/or their experience level?

I found someone with a License. He has not used Rotenone for the purpose of killing fish. Dose anyone have a procedure. I found some 5% Rotenone that is a solid (powder) for $30 / 5lbs. I also found some 5% that was a liquid $80 / gal. But it looked like the powder would be the cheaper way to go, assuming the table for application that I found is correct. It had 1.4 to 2.7 lbs of 5% solid for 1 ft-acre and .17 to .33 gal of 5% liquid for 1 ft-acre.

A procedure for calculating, mixing and applying the 5% powder Rotenone would be great!

Ok what are you trying to kill? Do you have high organic load? I understand saving money but no way i would attempt the powder any longer it is a major pain in the rear to use. Liquid is fairly simple. I will have to look it up but that sounds right for the liquid. If carp species or high organic loads you might have to use higher dosage rate.

Greg is right on target. Powder is hard to use, and your applicator has no prior experience. Even experienced applicators seem to have no better than a 50-50 chance of a complete kill with powder. You either need a big machine that blows the powder at high velocity into a mist of hot water, or you need to mix it in water with something like dish soap. Otherwise, you can't get the powder into suspension. Bottom line -- don't use powder without a world of previous experience.

Other species such a bullheads, green sunfish, bowfin, also require a higher final concentration of rotenone for a complete kill. Like Greg and Dave have said, liquid IS much better, more reliable and easier to use compared to powder. Powder may in the short run be cheaper but if you don't get a complete kill and have to treat a second time, it not only costs more but you also have lost maybe some valuable time in waiting a period and then finding a rekill is necessary and then having the cost of retreat. Now which would be cheaper?

There are various pond conditions that require nuances of rotenone application methods for treating individual ponds that can be slighly different. Stratification for one can be a big factor in achieving complete success. One should be experienced with treatments and be knowledgable of the various factors that could prevent achieving an effective or complete kill of various species of fish. Using an inexperienced applicator AND one that has never used powdered rotenone is in my opinion taking a big chance to save a few dollars.