Many farmers are now starting fish farming to meet their family’s needs or for greater profits. Although catfish isn’t the most sought-after fish in Nigeria, it is the most widely cultivated fish species in Nigeria. Catfish is one of the most easy fish species to grow. People naturally gravitate to the species of catfish that are easiest to grow. Let’s now talk about how you can start a small catfish farm.
Learn more about catfish
You must first know everything about fishing before you can start to create your own culture. To do this, you will need to read fishing books, visit local fish farms, and learn from their experiences. The Internet has made it easy to find information online, watch instructional videos, and consult experts in fisheries. After you have received enough training, you can start your own small fish farm. This is a good idea to do as a side-project. This can be done by building a few fish tanks. If the project is profitable, increase the fish production.
Information about catfish
1. Siluriformes are also known as catfish. There are many species of catfish: blue catfish and channel catfish as well as heteroclarias, clearias nugro-digitatus, flathead catfish and clarias species spp. Catfish are bottom-feeding fish and can be found in freshwater or coastal regions around the globe.
2. Catfish live in the middle and lower grades of rivers, lakes and reservoirs. They are more active in the coast zone. Nighttime, they forage in the grass, rocks, and deep under water. Catfish are a carnivorous species that prey on small fish like crucian and pseudorasbora parava, carp, loach and shrimp.
3. Catfish mature quickly, typically a year old is an adult. The spawning period lasts from April to June. Young fish mostly eat zooplankton and aquatic insect larvae, while shrimp is their delicacy. Catfish can grow quickly in cases of lycorexia. About 500g of catfish swallow large amounts of food. It is able to live in water temperatures of 25 20°C.
Analyse the catfish market
Analyzing your market’s demand and supply is the main purpose. You also need to evaluate your resources, including time and capital. Calculate any other costs you may incur such as operating and legal expenses, like licenses. To determine the profitability of your project, you should compare all costs with projected returns.
Catfish farming is very popular in Nigeria due to the ease of catfish farming and the stable market for catfish. This is especially true since catfish is a delicacy in Nigerian culture. Market prices for African catfish are usually determined per kilogram of fish. The price of catfish varies in Nigeria. The average catfish price in Nigeria is N500/kg in Lagos and N650/kg Makurdi. In Abuja, it can go for 750/kg. However, the market for catfish is very strong, regardless of where it is located. There is no difference in the catfish prices: this is dependent on supply and demand dynamics.
The federal government of Nigeria enacted and enforced a law prohibiting the importation frozen fish in 2013. This was done to promote local fish production. Nigeria has a population of approximately 150 million people. This number is expected to surpass the USA’s by 2050. Catfish delicacies are becoming increasingly popular in Nigerian homes and restaurants. The demand for catfish has increased significantly in recent years, and it is difficult to supply enough. A small-scale fish farm can be a great way to make a lot of money, or you can expand with experience.
Locate Space
You can start small by setting up a fish pond in your backyard. If you know you can sell your fish to buyers, then make sure your pond is large enough to produce enough fish. Wholesale prices are available for your supplies. Wholesale fish supply shops can be found online.
Catfish can be raised in tanks, cement pools, upper storage reservoirs, and cages. The stocking density for catfish is 500 fry per square meter. In case of individual differences, they should all be kept in the same area. After 15 to 20 days of breeding, their body length should be 3 to 5 cm. They can then be placed in a rice field, big pond, or stream.
Equipment and supplies that are essential
The first is the drainage device. Catfish is also known as a freshwater animal. Your productivity can be affected by poor quality water. Borehole and rivers are the best water sources. Your fish will not be able to drink tap water or rain water. You should also make sure your water isn’t acidic. Acidic water can be harmful to fish. You can test this by purchasing a pH meter.
The second, and most important, aspect of fish feeding is the quality of the feed. You need to ensure that your feeds contain the proper nutrients such as lysine (arginine), methionine (methionine), and you can make your own fish food. Fish feed making machines are very useful, and floating fish feed pellet production is very popular in Nigeria. Small-scale fish farms can use a 1-1.2 TPH fish feeding plant. The whole line includes a fish feed crusher, fish mixer, floating fish extruder machine, and fish feed extruder. Local meals are sometimes used by farmers to feed their fish. This is if the meals have the right nutrients. You should increase the amount of fish food you give them as they grow.
Daily management
You can easily cause water quality problems by feeding catsfish. If the water is able to maintain micro water for a long time, the results will be better. To prevent and treat fish diseases, you should add bleach powder or lime to the pool once a month.
A written management plan can be created. This will include what you have to do each day such as checking equipment, feeding the fish, and setting water temperature. You can write down what you did after starting a fish farm to gain experience. This will help you plan how to grow your fish farm.