July 27, 2019
Nigerian Catfish Farmers |
WATER TEMPERATURE
Temperature plays an important role in the growth of fish and breeding. Especially catfish fingerlings it grows faster in warmer temperatures as compared to harmattan or cold seasons.
By this its not recommended to be into fingerling production or to stock fish especially from June to July for semi intensive and extensive system of aquaculture production.
The effects of low temperatures are:
1. High fish mortality especially for fingerlings.
2. Slow growth due to fish tends not to feed when its cold, this can affect the water quality and waste of feed as well.
3. Fish becomes in active and hence there is no reproduction taking place until the temperatures are conducive
SOLUTIONS
1. For this reason, ensure your fish ponds are not too shallow, this is due to when the ponds are too shallow its easy the temperatures of water to get colder dramatically which may cause fish kills.
2. Avoid feeding especially when the temperatures are below 18 Degrees Celsius
3. Avoid stocking in this cold season period, but if you have already stocked fish just maintain them properly.
4. Avoid fingerlings production during this season and concentrate on brooder stocks and grow-out production to prevent losses in your business.
5. Always try to consult from experts, to prevent losses.
However, in areas or countries with the highest temperature being at 15C where its colder they dig ponds as far as up to 2m. Which is not a case in tropical region due to its warmer temperatures where the lowest temperatures could be at 16 C. Atleast the shallow end must not be less than 0.6m.
