Catfish farming is increasingly becoming an attractive form of agriculture for many Nigerians. Farming fish which belongs to the part of agriculture referred to as aquaculture is catching the eye of many people as the prospects of profit, especially at first glance seem motivating enough. This form of agriculture has found a large followers’ base primarily due to the relative ease of culturing catfish, the readily available markets for catfish is a treasured delicacy among many Nigerian culture as well as the profitability of a successful catfish venture.
Many Nigerians involved in
catfish farming use concrete ponds or plastic tanks. Both methods have their
strengths and weaknesses and it is wise for the would-be catfish farmer to
explore these perspectives before making a decision on which to adopt. While
using concrete tank seems to be more natural to culturing catfish, plastic
tanks can come handy where availability of space is a constraint. Using ponds
also gives the farmer the leverage of culturing a relatively large number of
fishes as pond design can be tailored from the outset to march intended fish
density. Culturing tanks are however limited in size and fixed, thus limiting
the catfish farmer to stocking the tanks with a restricted number of fishes for
best results.
African catfish usually takes an
average of 5 months to reach table size. At this age they usually attained an
average weight of 1kg. The weight attained by catfish after 5 months is however
variable depending on a number of factors that may include, quality of
fingerlings used, quality of feeds, water management quality, absence of
disease, stocking density among others. It is not uncommon to have fish weigh
1.5kg after 5 months.
The market price of Africa
catfish is usually gauged per kg weight of fish. This price varies across
several geographical locations in Nigeria. On the average catfish can be sold
for N500/kg in Lagos, 650/kg in Markudi and 750/kg in Abuja. The market for
catfish however is not lacking, irrespective of geographical location
disparities. Before venturing into catfish farming, it is pertinent to take a
number of factors into consideration for success. Rearing catfish is not merely
about buying fingerlings and dumping them in a pond and feeding them thrice a
day. From the outset the former should take time to put into consideration the
following: quality of fingerlings, pond design, feeding program, water
management and well as markets for harvested catfish.
QUALITY OF FINGERLINGS
Catfish fingerlings are of
different breeds, just like other species of animals. It is important that the
catfish farmer takes his time to identify fast growing and disease resistant
breeds of fingerlings to ensure profitability in a catfish venture. This can be
done through appropriate consultation with a specialist in fingerlings from
several farms before making a pick a stock of fingerlings.
POND DESIGN
Stocking density plays a huge
role in the growth of some fish at the expense of others and in the end lead to
cannibalism. Besides, pressure stresses due to over-stocking are bound to
affect the all-round development of fish in the pond. Once stunted growth acts
in from the outset it is bound to linger. Therefore, the catfish farmer would
want to consider an appropriate length, breadth & depth of pond, depending
on his intended number of fishes to stock pond with. Also pond design should
incorporate provision for the separation of fishes in the event that growth is
non-proportionate to avoid cannibalism. Water management for pond would mean
periodic changing of water & pond design should incorporate this from the
outset to avoid challenges.
FEEDING
This constitutes the bulk of cost
of rearing catfish, usually 60% and above. In most places in Nigeria, available
catfish feeds are imported and cost an average of N5500/15kg bag. A 15kg bag
can take 700 two month old fishes just 10days. While you are in a hurry to
start reaping the profit from catfish culturing, be prepared beforehand for the
challenge of feeding the fishes. Catfish can be fed once or twice a day.
Excessive feeding of fingerlings increases the cost of rearing catfish and this
result in marginal growth increases. Feeds are also primary source of pond
water pollution and excessive feeding constitutes a water management challenge.
Thus the catfish farmer needs to strike a balance between feeding and water
management. There are several subjective formulas used to determine an
appropriate feeding program for fish. One is to provide as much feeds that
fishes can finish in 5-10 minutes. This can then be used as the quantity of
feed needed for satiation. Using this formula, catfish can be feed just once a
day.
With respect of feeding catfish,
an alternative for Nigerian farmers is the use of locally made feeds. Unlike
the imported counterpart local feeds, cost an average of 3500/kg bag without
considerable growth implications. A challenge however would be to access
sources of such local feeds as most parts of Nigeria are filled with the
expensive imported feeds.
FEED
Supplementary feed has advantages
of:
1.
Promoting faster growth.
2.
Allowing high density stocking.
3.
Production of high yields per meter square.
4.
Possibility of two growing seasons in a year
especially in topical countries like Nigeria.
5.
Enabling fish farmers through feeding of fish to
have regular contact with his fish and to detect disease or water quality
problems.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF
SUPPLEMENTARY FEED
1. Acceptability
to fish.
2.
Effectiveness in promoting fish growth.
3. Degree of
availability and affordability to most fish farmers, costs of feeds are
constituting a disincentive in small scale fish farming.
WATER MANAGEMENT
A huge percent of fish deaths
have been related to water management issues. Pond design should take into
consideration the PH of water (acidic water kills fish real fast, basic water
is suitable for fingerlings and neutral water is required for fries, really
tiny fishes). It is also important to stimulate the growth of plankton by
introducing manure into the pond before stocking with fingerlings. Oxygen
requirement for fishes is dependent on an effective water management system as
two much plankton growth results in compensation for oxygen among plankton and
catfish. Waste from fish as well as pollution from feeds also reduces oxygen
content of pond water, resulting in stresses on fish. An indication of
declining oxygen is when fishes are seemed for considerable periods on water
surface (trying to breathe better). Water should be replaced from time to time
(though this can be a challenge in places where water availability is a
problem).
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