Blood Chemistry Values for Some Fishes of the Upper Mississippi River

Plasma concentrations of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, inorganic phosphate, glucose, lactic acid and total carbon dioxide and whole blood pH and hematocrit were determined for nine species of fish from the Upper Mississippi River area. Most of the values obtained fall within the range of values published for other freshwater fishes, except that the plasma concentrations of potassium and chloride in sexually mature walleye pike were low. The chloride was compensated for by a high plasma total carbon dioxide. Further studies should establish whether these blood chemistry values may be considered of normal range. counties.