Make your catfish grow faster within a short period of time

 Most times, some fish farmers ask if I can recommend any drug that can make their catfish grow faster within a short period of time. 

 Well, I will not like to recommend the use of drug in aiding fish growth but will rather prefer giving you tips on some good management practices that can enable your fish grow faster especially with regards to feeding the fish with high quality feed of enough quantity. 

 Do regular sorting to reduce competition that may affect the growth of some fishes. These will help you have big and healthy fish rather than using drugs to make them grow faster. 

 However, all these are still subject to the quality of the fish in question because some fish farmers tends to make the mistake of buying fishes that are not of good breed that may not grow well probably due to the price at purchase or other cheaper means. 

 In this case, there is nothing that can make them change their genetic make up and allow them grow big over night which is why I will advice that you dispose them off because If you choose to keep feeding those fishes that you already know will not grow big, you may be running at a loss for the amount you will later sell them can never compensate for the amount in raising them.

There are several factors that affect the growth of your catfish. Growth of your fish and profit will depend on how efficiently you manage your farm, the water quality, disease control, and the number of fish you STOCK per ponds size. 

Here is a list of other factors affecting your fish farm production:

Temperature

Pond PH Balance

Fish feed quality and right quntity.

Water quality (Dissolved solids)

.Sorting

Temperature

Catfish grow best in warm water between 83-86o F. You can begin spawning of your fish in the spring when the water temperature rises above 70 o F. You may collect juvenile fish from a nearby hatchery.

Flowing water

Catfish do not grow well in small ponds because of competition for space and oxygen. Catfish tend to grow faster when their is enough space. The bigger the spacing, the bigger and faster they grow.

Pond balance

Maintaining a balance in your pond is important because if you have fish growing in higher density, it could give rise to toxic water and pollution. Your fish will get sick and grow less. You must always maintain a ph of between 6.5 -7.5. Anything far or less is at your own detriment.

Fish feed

For rapid growth, use a nutritionally balanced catfish feed. I recommend skretting fish feed. Your catfish fingerlings will grow faster if you feed them regularly in the beginning of production season, they will grow the right size when you maintain this factors as stated. However, feeding too much will result in poor water quality and it will also increase your feeding costs.

Water quality & fish health

Water plays an important role in raising healthy fish. A water without dissolved harmful solid toxins or poisons is the best for your catfish rearing. 

Your water should have a pH between 6.5 - 7.5. If the pH is too low, add limestone to your pond. Also check for dissolved impurities. Both physical and chemical factors play important role in rising catfish faster.

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Biofloc fish farming: Failure in oxygen supply can lead to huge loss

Dead tilapia fish in biofloc fish tank after oxygen supply was cut

Biofloc fish farming can be disastrous if not maintained properly. Recently, a farmer in Mararikkulam of Alappuzha had to face a loss of Rs 2 lakh after the oxygen supply to the fish pond was disconnected by some anti-socials. In biofloc fish farming, about 3000 fish can be cultivated in a fish tank that has 2 metre area. It also ensures high profit for the farmer.

Fish farming can be continued for many years in the tank which has a life of upto 5-10 years. It does not require large ponds and frequent changing of water. Fish can be harvested within 4-5 months. But oxygen has to be pumped through water all the time. If motor got damaged at night or oxygen pumping is blocked, all fish will die together.

A bacteria called Lactobacillus is grown in the fish tank in the first 15 days. They absorb ammonia and other pollutants and will help keep the tank clean always. So, once the tank is set up, the water need not be changed or pumped out. The cost of making a tank is about Rs 50,000.

In the incident occurred in Mararikkulam, the farmer had to face the loss as somebody switched off the oxygen cylinder in the farm. Following this, 2500 tilapia fish to be harvested in a month died. The farmers have to monitor the functioning of motor and oxygen pumping in view of similar accidents.

Source: http://is.gd/E6w5ys

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