EFFECT OF OYSTER SHELL ON CATFISH GROWTH AND POND WATER PH BALANCE

Two Tanks Filled with the Same Water but One has Oysters Shell In It

This striking visualization we see two tanks filled with water from a salty water river. The tank on the right also contains oysters shells. Over the course of 2 hours those oysters filtered all of the algae out of the water, balanced pH, increased dissolved oxygen rate, cleared impurites, and produced pure water.  With oyster shell balancing of water pH, fishes tend to grow rapidly, healthy and fast. A right water pH from 6.5 to 7.5 decrease the time it takes for fishes to reach full maturity, the right pH balance deter or prevents and makes water unsuitable for diseases and microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses to grow in pond, hereby preventing disease outbreak. To monitor your water pH, its expected you have a digital pH meter to monitor and manage your water pH and balance the pH. Buy the button caliberated digital ph meter here. The demonstration shows how effective oysters are at naturally filtering water which benefits Catfish and other fishes:

“With oyester filter, water produced balanced pH pond water, more dissolved oxygen and balanced water nutrient etc.

Typically a single oyster shell can filter up to 2 gallons (7.57 litres) of water an hour. 

Watch video below:

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Ensuring High Survival rate in Catfish Hatchery Management

Prevention should be considered the first line of defense when managing egg disease and survival. 

The most productive method of producing a healthy catfish fingerlings is to transfer fries after 5 days to a hatchery after spawning.

Simple management strategies, such as disinfecting the hatchery before the hatchery season, having separate nets and equipment for each hatching trough, disinfecting hands, disinfecting egg masses before bringing them into the hatchery, and using a pathogen-free water supply, help prevent the introduction of infectious pathogens into the hatchery.

The time it takes for catfish eggs to hatch depends on water temperature. Channel catfish typically spawn when water temperatures are between (21 and 29 °C). 

Preventing fries fatalities:

The factors that can cause dead eggs (eggs that have stopped developing) include excessive handling, overcrowding, high temperature, water hardness, and transport delays. Important hatchery water quality.

Excessive handling
Fries in the early development stages are sensitive to handling and should be handled as little as possible to prevent mechanical injury.

Overcrowding
Many factors affect the maximum loading rate fries can sustain. Over-crowding causes poor water circulation and makes it easier for diseases to transfer between egg masses.

Temperature
Temperature is an important environmental factor that affects egg development, hatch rates and disease susceptibility. Newly spawned fries are more sensitive to temperature changes. If fries less than 24 hours old are moved from a pond to hatchery water of a substantially different temperature, they must be acclimated to prevent a high mortality rate. 

Fries can be managed by using a hose to slowly run hatchery water into the transport container until the water temperature in the container matches that in the hatchery. The optimal temperature range for incubating catfish eggs is (26 to 28 C). At temperatures above and below this range, hatch rates will be reduced by egg death and disease.

PH of Water
The ideal ph of water for rapid and high survival of fries and fingerlings is between 6.5 - 7.5. Anything below or above will expose your catfish to disease and mortalities (death). It is mandatory to have a digital ph meter to take your water reading.

Removing dead eggs and fries

Regardless of the cause of death, dead eggs should be removed to prevent disease outbreaks. Live eggs are transparent and progress from a pale yellow to an orangered color as they mature. Dead eggs are often difficult to identify during the first day or two after spawning. But by the third day, dead eggs typically appear opaque and colorless. Some dead eggs also may be enlarged. When dead eggs are observed, they can be removed by hand, being careful not to damage nearby live eggs. Egg masses older than 24 hours should be turned over periodically in the hatching basket and inspected for fungus and bacteria. This should be done at least twice daily, but no more than four times daily, until hatching begins.

Managing Disease

More serious than dead eggs themselves is the fact that fries are often attacked by disease pathogens that can then spread quickly to adjacent live eggs. Once a disease outbreak has begun, it can quickly get out of control. 

Disease-causing organisms
Bacterial and fungal infections are the primary threats to catfish eggs and fries. Bacterial infections most often occur when hatchery water temperature is higher than (28 C) and when hatching pond are overcrowded. Bacterial egg rot appears as a milky white patch, often seen on the underside and in the middle of the egg mass. This patch of bacteria will contain dead and deteriorating eggs. It should be carefully removed, along with the surrounding dead eggs. 

Fungus is more prevalent at lower temperatures, usually (26 C) and below. It rapidly attacks infertile and dead eggs. Fungal infections are easy to spot; they appear as white or brown cotton-like growths made up of many small filaments. If left untreated, these filaments can invade and kill adjacent healthy eggs, expanding to cover the entire egg mass and potentially every egg mass in the hatching trough. Mechanically removing dead and infected eggs can be time consuming, but is beneficial. Chemical control of fungal infections is quite effective. 

Formalin. Formalin is  for the control of fungi on fish eggs. The maximum concentration for disinfecting catfish eggs is 2000 ppm for 15 minutes as a flush treatment. Under typical hatchery conditions, with an average of one volume exchange every 45 to 60 minutes, 2000 ppm can be toxic to channel catfish eggs and fries. In most hatcheries, fungus can be controlled by treating with 100 ppm formalin for 15 minutes as a bath treatment. Turn the water off during treatment. Flush completely with fresh water when treatment time has elapsed. For flush treatments, concentrations between 100 and 400 ppm formalin have been successful at temperatures of  (24 to 30 C). Hatch rates tend to improve when formalin treatments are administered twice daily. 

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New Button Caliberation Digital Ph meter

New Button Caliberation Digital Ph meter and Total dissolved solid + Temperature meter

Usage:
All water treatment and analysis
Catfish Rearing, Wine, ph monitoring in Geologist, Water engineers, water treatment engineers, pure water companies, organic cream and soap making, boreholes  tertiary, secondary and special laboratories.

Parameters :
Read  PH 1 - 14 (Acceptable: PH 6.5 -  7.5)
                  Tds 1 - 50 ppm (Cleanest)

Importance:

PH;   high feed conversion rate = Faster growth. High fish survival rate. You know when to change water, You tell whether water is acidic or Alkaline. Fish grow fast. Happy fish when oh is right.




Price :      Each N10,000
               


DELIVERY DETAILS:

Delivery fee Lagos: N1000
                  Pay on Delivery.

                  Ogun: N1500 - N2000
                  Pay on Delivery.


Other states pay before delivery;

Northern states (State Capital)
delivery fee : N2500

South South - South east (State Capital) delivery fee N1500 - N2000

Call 08138570184 to place order

Whatsapp by clicking link below to order on whatsapp https://wa.me/2348138570184

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DAILY FISH FARMING TIPS

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.

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AVOIDABLE CAUSES OF DEATH OF FINGERLINGS

 Fingerlings are most vulnerable when they are less than 10g in size, thus the highest mortality rates occur during this period.

Over stocking the pond leads to high mortality. This is because they need to be fed with a relatively large quantity of feed which will thus result in higher amount of waste released into the pond.

High amount of waste in fish ponds degrades water quality and should be minimised as much as possible.

Catfish are carnivorous by nature, which means they feed on flesh. So one should ensure that when stocking fingerlings, they should be sorted weekly and fingerlings of the same size should be stocked together.

Again, fingerlings of similar sizes should be stocked into smaller tanks before transferring them to the main grow-out pond.

Overfeeding fingerlings and juveniles may also lead to high mortality rates because they have uncontrollable appetite which lead to overfeeding and consequently death.

Another reason is transfer stress, when they are transferred from one location to another, such fingerlings/ juveniles should be left for at least 24hours before feeding.

Poor water management. Anything below and above 6.5 - 7.5 PH of Water (i.e too acidic or alkaline) makes the fish to be prone to disease infestation, poor feed conversion ration by the fish, slow growth, wasted resources, blisters on fish skin, promotes the growth of micro organisms such as fungi, bacteria, and parasitic worms that will eventually kill the fish.

NOTE: Make sure you use your ph meter to regularly test your pond water ph level. At least 3 times a day.

Watch out for our next tips

Cheers!

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HOW TO GROW YOUR CATFISH BIGGER AND FASTER

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 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.


Check for water contamination by using our water tests.

Call us with 08138570184 or order on whatsapp here at

https://wa.me/2348138570184

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