Meen valarthal(Fish Farming)-Cat fish

Catfish Farming

Once upon a time there was a large number of catfish available. Then the giant catfish or the largest catfish were available. The biggest catfish could be found almost every place. Nowadays most of the people do not know about what is catfish and the number of catfish is reducing due to numerous reasons. Lack of natural living place of the catfish, and fishing in a plenty is the most common reason for reduce the number of catfish. But now people are very interested in catfish farming. Many breeds of catfish are now farming artificially. Now you can cultivate catfish in your pond. There are some steps of this fish farming which are described bellow. 

Pond Selection:

To farming catfish, pond selection is a very important matter. Before selecting pond for catfish farming you have to give attention in some steps.

• The pond must have to be free from flood.
• The shore of the pond have to be strong.
• The shore area of the pond have to free from hole.
• If there are any hole in the pond shore all catfish will go out from there.
• The depth of water will not more than 4 feet in rainy season.
• It will be better if the pond become oblong rather than squire.
• The pond should have the facilities of proper sunlight.

Pond Management:

Catfish can be cultivated in both new and old pond. But it would be better if you cultivate catfish in an old pond. If you want to use new pond then you have to dug the soil well and have to mix dung and lime. This will make make the soil fertile. If the soil of the pond not fertile it will hamper the health of the catfish. The old pond have to dry well before cultivating catfish. If there are much mud then some mud should removed. After that some lime can applied. Then the pond should covered with net, it will prevent the fish from frog and snake. The snake is much harmful to catfish than frog. After making a fence of net fresh water should provide 2 - 3 feet. Minnow should keep after 2-3 days of water supply.

Minnow:

After completing pond management high quality minnow should keep in the pond. 2-3 inch size minnow should collect from the hatchery. There are many hatcheries available which produce high quality catfish. Anti fungus medicine should apply in catfish pond. This medicine have to apply again after 2-3 days of releasing the minnow. This will keep the minnow from all types of diseases.

Minnow Density:

Catfish Photo

Only catfish or catfish with other fish can be cultivated. When the catfish will be cultivated with other carp fish then the density will at most 25-30. The number will be more if only the catfish cultivated. In accordance with carp fish the farmer can cultivate catfish with tilapia fish and pangash. In this case 40-50 catfish can be kept. If the farmer cultivate catfish with carp fish, tilapia or pangash it will reduce the cost of food. Catfish will consume the food provided for carp fish from the bottom of the pond. The main benefit of farming catfish with carp fish is that, it will reduce the quantity of ammonia gas.

Food Management:

20% of food should served for the first 10 days according to the weight of the catfish after keeping them to the pond. The little cat fish prefer to take food in night. So, the food should served twice daily. After first 10 days the food serving have to reduce to 12-15%. The catfish take food in day time when they reach about 3 inch size. When the catfish will be one month old then they should serve 5% of food according to their body weight. Food should served in morning and evening. Food should served in proper way, if you serve less food this will make the fish thin and if you serve much food it will damage the water condition of the pond and increase your food cost.

In Winter Season:

Winter season is very harmful for catfish. They suffers by various disease of fish in this season. Some extra care should make in this season. The water of the pond should change after every 15 days. Anti fungus medicine have to apply every month. The water depth should kept within 2 feet. Ganonex medicine can use to remove the ammonia gas from the pond.

Catfish Collection:

Almost all types of fish can be collected by net. But it is so difficult to collect the catfish with net. To collect this fish remove the water from the pond. The water should removed in the last night and all fish have to collect. The fish will die and its condition will damage if the farmer collect them in sunny weather. If one part of the pond is low than the other part then it will be more easy to collect all the fish.
Catfish has a great demand and price in the market. All types of people like them. This fish is very suitable for patient and the doctors advices them to eat catfish. However, catfish farming is a very suitable way to income and meet your family fish demand. About 4 tons of cat fish can produce from one acres of land within 10 month.