Friday, February 7, 2025
Home Farming Tips Reap Big From Fish

Reap Big From Fish

by Jacquiline Nakandi
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By Herbert Musoke

Feeds and feeding management have long posed challenges to fish farming enterprises, leading to low production and profitability.

During the Harvest Money Master Class aired live on Bukedde TV1, Ivan Ssabwe, an expert from Koudijs, trained fish farmers on determining the right feeding strategy and tracking the performance of their tilapia and catfi sh farms.

Ssabwe cautioned farmers to focus on the quality of the feed, rather than the price, as cheaper, low-quality feeds can lead to stunted growth of fish, resulting in poor harvests and ultimately lowering productivity and profitability.

Considerations

Ssabwe explained that there are several factors fi sh farmers must consider when choosing feed and feeding their fish to optimise feed utilisation:

  • Stocking density: Proper stocking density should be considered for effective management. Stocking should ideally be 1-3 fish per square metre, but if you have the capacity to refresh the water for oxygenation, you can stock 3-4 fish per square metre for pond systems.
  • Water quality: Water is crucial in fish farming, so it must be of the highest quality, in terms of cleanliness and oxygen levels. Dirty water will prevent fish from eating well. You can assess water quality by observing the fish; if they all swim to the clean water during water refreshing, it indicates poor water quality.
  • Feeding: Farmers should observe and understand the behaviour of their fish, as their reactions in the pond or cage can provide valuable insights. Fish should be fed 20% of their body weight, and the total daily feed should be divided into three feeding sessions.
  • Temperature: Temperature influences the feeding behaviour of fish. When it is cold, fish may refuse to eat. Therefore, it is best to feed fish when temperatures are warmer, ideally around 27°C. Keep some extra feed on hand, in case the fish are still hungry after the initial feeding. The first feeding should occur an hour after sunrise and the last should be two hours before sunset.
  • Feed efficiency: Feed efficiency refers to the amount of feed required to produce a kilogramme of fish. Ssabwe advised farmers to regularly weigh their fish to monitor their growth and understand their feed conversion ratio. This helps in making informed decisions about feed brands. Weigh fish every two weeks, when they weigh less than 500g and once a month for fi sh over 500g. Weigh them by moving them to one corner of the pond or cage, scooping them into a bucket, counting them and then calculating the average weight after subtracting the weight of the bucket.
  • Fish age and size Fish feed should be tailored to the fish’s age and size. As fish grow, their feeding needs change. Young and small fish should be fed high-nutrient feeds, preferably pellets, to promote faster and healthier growth. Additionally, the feed should have small particles to prevent choking or starving due to the inability to eat larger particles.
  • Cleanliness: Many diseases that affect fish are caused by fungi, which can be eliminated by maintaining proper cleanliness. Clean your ponds and cages before stocking and after harvesting.

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