Tilapia farming: Here is an article on how to start a catfish farm. Tilapia is a popular delicacy eaten worldwide recent development in aquaculture has increased the production and population of the fish. Growing culture includes earthen ponds, lakes, rivers, tanks. Top producers are found in Asian countries and West Africa.
Top Producers
Top producers are found in Asian countries like Taiwan,
Viet Nam. Others are China, Philippines, Bangladesh and Thailand.
Taiwan
Viet Nam
China
Philippines
Bangladesh
Thailand
Uses
This fast grows fish lives on a vegetarian diet with low levels of omega 3. It is a good source of protein, carbohydrates, potassium, vitamin B. Regarded as lean meat it has low calories, saturated fat. Culinary uses includes roasting, frying, boiling or baking.
Starting a catfish farm is adequate land
Diseases
Tilapia is a hardy fish not susceptible to many diseases. However they will kill themselves, fight or die if the pond has low levels of oxygen. Waste or pollutants from pelleted feed, over feeding or extreme cold will kill them.
Tilapia Diseases
Types of Tilapia Fish
There are several hundred types of tilapia fish. You have
the Nile, Mozambique, karomo, Redbreast. Others are zebra, spotted, redbelly
and different species of Oreochromis.
More include lake chala tilapia, Fissi,
Coptodon,kululu,Lake Rukwa. Based on geographical location the commonly fished verity
are the Mozambique, Blue and Nile. They are ideal for commercial production
fast growing perfect for acquaculture.
Different Types
Nile
Mozambique
Karomo
Redbreast
lake chala tilapia
Fissi
Coptodon
Kululu
Lake Rukwa
Feeding
Live food is essential for quick development of fry or
juveniles. Place them in breeding pond for effective management of growth. Fry’s
eat zooplankton, phytoplankton while juveniles, young fish eat formulated feed.
Types of Food they eat
Zooplankton
Phytoplankton
formulated feed
Formulated Feed in Tilapia Farming
To achieve faster growth within a short period farmers use high quality formulated feed. Pelleted feed is used in commercial intensive farming system alongside pond fertilization.
supplementary food for catfish
Phytoplankton
Production of phytoplankton is possible in a pond
environment. A technique used by farmers is to fertilize the water which
stimulates growth of the plankton.
Breeding
In advanced aquaculture male fish are generally
considered more profitable. This is because of fast rate of growth, good feed
conversion ratio. The male are larger than the female, weigh more. To reduce
competition between them stock male and female separately.
Fish Selection Method in Tilapia Farming
Different techniques are deployed to select or produce mostly
male offspring’s. A poplar technique is producing YY chromosome males. Fry are
selected and treated with estrogen to produce females with the XY chromosome.
Then the next generation are mated with those with only XX chromosome. Finally breeder fish with YY are selected and used to produce XY male offspring. This technique is highly scientific and used in research laboratories or big farms.
How to start a tilapia farm in your backyard
Diet Manipulation
This method is highly controversial with safety, ethical
issues. A farmer adds methyltesosterone to the feed to encourage development of
mostly male fish.
The female develop male characteristics while traces of
the chemical in the fish are noticeable over a 30 day period. Dangerous effect
of this method is liver damage to fish, concerns about the safety when
consuming.
Breeding Stock
Selecting the right breeding stock is moderately
challenging. Methods include cold tolerance, color and size. Select those that
display good activity, disease free, shooters (fast growers).
The commercially viable type are the Nile and Mozambique.
20,000 fry of 1 gram is stocked in 1 acre by 18 weeks they will produce 110
grams fingerlings.
Breeding Method
Tilapia are highly prolific breeders and easily produce
young in deal conditions. There are two basic ways the fish reproduce,
substrate spawners or mouth brooders.
Substrate Spawning
Popular substrate breeders are tilapia Zillii, tilapia rendalli.
This group of fish spawn eggs in substrate by evacuating or digging a nest. The
female lays fertilized eggs with both parents on guard duty. A farmers should provide
a gravel bed as substrate to encourage egg laying.
Mouth Brooders (Oreochromis niloticus)
Nile, Blue and Mozambique tilapia are mouth brooders. Males
display aggressive behavior towards other male while the female build nest in
preparation for spawning.
Courtship is short with a notable darkening of male. The
female lays unfertilized eggs which are then fertilized by male. The female
then collected in the mouth for safekeeping and hatching.
How to Separate Fry or Eggs
Stock 2 male to 6 female or 1 male to 3 female for best
results. Hatchery techniques to consider are tray, jar, hapa or pond hatchery. Environmental
cues are 12 hour variations in water temperature from warm to moderately cold.
Gather Fry: Once
fertilized eggs are visible the farmer has two alternatives. The first way is
to wait for the eggs to hatch in the fish’s mouth and fry emerge. Then gather
the fry into a growing tank.
2. Gather Eggs: The second way is to
gather the eggs into a separate tank to hatch. The bottom-line is to remove the
eggs or fry to prevent the adults from preying on them.
Grow out
To encourage fast growth feed them pelleted feed
specially formulated for Tilapia. Low oxygen levels is harmful to the fish
especially fry. Maintain pH of 6.5, temperature 25c minimum oxygen level of
4mg/l.
Fish
type
stocking
temperature
pH
oxygen
level
Tilapia
1
male/3 female
25c
6.5
4mg/l.
Things to Consider before building a Pond
There are things to consider before building a pond.
Logistics are good site location, closeness to market, transportation. Others
are soil quality, availability of water, soil free of contaminants.
site
location
closeness
to market
transportation
soil
quality
availability
of water
access
to feed
access
to starter stock
soil
free of contaminants
Different Types of Fish Ponds for Tilapia Farming
Pond based on usage
The pond types depends on material used and purpose. Pond
types based on usage are spawning, holding, nursery, grow out, segregation
ponds.
Spawning
Holding
Nursery
Grow out
segregation
Ponds based on Material used Functionality
Different ponds based on material are concrete pond,
block pond, wooden pond. Others are earthen pond, canopy, plastic and tank.
Embankment pond
Block pond
Tank
Plastic
Wooden
Concrete
Canopy
Plastic Ponds
Plastic ponds are purposely built for fish production.
They have inlet, outlets with different water capacity. To install the pond
build a concrete base and place the pond on top. Tank ponds are similar to
plastic ponds but made with galvanized material.
Wooden Pond
To build a wooden pond get a carpenter to build a sturdy frame.
Then place a canopy or tarpaulin over the frame to make the pond. Make sure the
frame is strong to withstand water pressure and stock.
Earthen Pond
Earthen ponds are dug out type on flat land, sloppy or
close to stream. They require evacuation of the soil have good stocking
capacity. This type of pond provides fast growth rate however it requires good
water management. Earthen pond are based on water availability, contour,
diversion, and barrage.
Types of Concrete Ponds
There are different types of concrete ponds. We have free
flow concrete, stagnant concrete, and water recycling concrete pond. Free flow
requires flow out channels while stagnant acquires water through the aid of
pumping machine.
free flow concrete
stagnant concrete
water recycling concrete pond
Concrete Pond
Select a secure site close to source of water natural
sun. Peg four corners of the pond, evacuate the lower part for foundation.
Erect the walls with concrete blocks and reinforce with broken blocks as
required.
If the pond length is more than 6 feet add pillar to
avoid collapse from water pressure, gravity. Make sure the bricklayer provides
an overflow pipe, water inlet and outlet. Get a plumber to install the
inlet/outlet before plastering the outer surface.
Concrete is also used for the floor of the pond to retain
water and prevent leakage. A water recycling concrete pond requires a refined
filtration system.
It provides good efficiency, water management, increased
stocking capacity. It improves dissolved oxygen in the water, growth rate,
remove dirty.
Advantage of Concrete Pond
A concrete pond is a permanent structure that require low
maintenance. It is ideal for fingerlings or grow-out production. Perfect for
catfish or tilapia farming in urban areas.
Integrated System for Tilapia Farming
Natural ponds are ideal for integrated aquaculture
system. Locate chicken pen over a portion of the pond for fresh manure. Other
systems are pig or duck integrated to the fish farm.
Harvesting and Marketing
Draining of the pond is the normal practice for
harvesting. However some farmers deploy the seining method for low density
populations. Sell to market women, frozen food stores, supermarkets, meat
stores
