In the rearing of catfish, one of the challenges the farmer faces is high mortality rates for those using surface tanks (block ponds, plastic tanks, earthen ponds, etc.). Fish Mortality is usually highest when the fish is initially stocked during the fingerling stage (< 10g in size). For farmers that purchase fingerlings, these losses can be crippling to their business and this article shows how to reduce these losses.
Catfish has a very good market prospect in Africa, and many customers buy our fish food pellet machine to make catfish feed pellets. At the same time, we have also gained a lot of technical experience in catfish farming. If you have any questions about catfish farming, please feel free to contact us, our technicians are very happy to help you. In addition, we have a lot of customers in Africa. If you need to inspect our feed production equipment, we can provide you with contact information.
Nutritional Requirement For Catfish
Many Catfish farmers lose their profit because they spend more money on different feeds in a bid to get the right one for the healthy growth of their fish, but they do not know that there is a nutritional requirement for catfish feed. When rearing fishes such as Catfish, it is important that they get enough feed with the right nutrient to keep them healthy and grow well. however, this can be achieved with special raw materials.
The nutritional requirement for Catfish
These classes of nutrients are listed in order of importance, and how essential they are in feed formulation. Like other fishes, Catfish also need protein, vitamins, minerals even carbohydrates to maintain healthy growth and weight, hence their nutritional requirement.
- Energy (Carbohydrate): Grains of cereals and cassavas are the major sources of this nutrient. They provide the energy needed for catfishes.
- Vitamins and minerals: Growth, health, and body process are controlled by vitamins and minerals. For example, organic and inorganic chemicals are found in this class of nutrition.
- Protein: This class of nutrients is required for building body tissues and the replacement of damaged tissues. However, it contains physiological molecules such as hormones and enzymes. Furthermore, protein can be obtained from plants and animals.
- Fat: This contains vital fatty acids and also enhances energy delivery in the feed.
How to reduce fingerling mortality?
1. Do not overstock fingerlings in a pond
When fingerlings are overstocked in a pond, mortalities tend to be higher. It is more difficult to manage them when they are overstocked since a large quantity of feed would need to be given to the fish and their subsequent waste released into the pond would quickly degrade the water quality which could lead to mortalities. Also, there would always be uneven growth as the stronger fish tend to feed better and grow faster leading to them preying on the smaller ones.
2. Sort Frequently and remove the larger size fish
Catfish are carnivorous. The larger-sized fish usually prey on the smaller ones swallowing them whole. When stocking fingerlings, always try to sort them frequently (weekly), remove the quicker growing fish (shooters) and always try to put the same size of fish together.
3. Stock grow-out ponds at the right size
For both surface tanks and earthen ponds stocking them at the right size in the grow-out ponds determines the survival rates. It’s usually best to always stock fingerlings and manage them in smaller tanks before transferring them to grow-out ponds.
Given below is a table showing the expected survival rates for fingerlings stocked in different sizes and the expected survival rates:
| Size at stocking(g) | Survival rate(%) |
| 0.3-1.5 | 6-20 |
| 1.5-3 | 19-30 |
| 3-5 | 30-50 |
| 5-10 | 40-60 |
| 10-50 | 60-90 |
| 50-100 | 80-100 |
| >100 | 90-100 |
If you have any problems with catfish farming, please feel free to contact us. Our professional sales manager will contact you and send the solutions soon.
Lima feed machinery has been working in the feed farming industry for more than ten years, as the professional manufacturer and exporter of feed equipment. We specialize in the production of fish feed extruders, poultry feed pellet machines, and corresponding production lines. If you have any questions about the feed pellet industry, please feel free to contact us.
