How to Feed Table Size Catfish to Juveniles Catfish
Catfish farming has grown in popularity in recent years. This is because of the huge demand for fish and dwindling natural resources
The fish is now grown in urban areas in simple plastic or block ponds.
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This is done by small hold farmers or hobbyists. The amount of capital depends on the size of the enterprise. In catfish production, the most expensive aspect is feeding.
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Types of feed
There are different types of foods catfish eat. The fish are capable of consuming pellet feed, raw meat, grains, and some leafy greens. There are many supplementary food for catfish farmers.
Different types of catfish feed are commercial grade pellet feed, earthworms, rice, blood meal.
commercial grade pellet feed,
earthworms,
Grains
blood meal
Cannibals
The fish are confirmed cannibals and are known to eat themselves. This is a survival strategy to reduce food competition, kill weak ones and a source of protein.
How to feed table size catfish to juvenile catfish.
It is not an uncommon sight to see large fish devour smaller fish. However you will hardly see juvenile fish eating larger ones. Not because they don’t have appetite for the large fish, it is because they don’t stand a chance against the large fish.
READ ALSO: How to Start Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Fish Farming
If you grow different sizes of fish there is a chance some of them will die. Instead of disposal, the dead fish is a good source of protein.
Not every dead fish is suitable for feeding juveniles. If the large fish died of a disease, promptly throw it away.
Most times catfish attack each other causing fatality. A good practice is to remove the injured fish. However some will die in the holding tank or bowl. This type of fish is perfect for feeding your stock.
Feed table size catfish to juvenile cat catfish
Steps to feed table size catfish to juvenile catfish.
Use only fish that died from. Injury or natural causes. The reason you select the fish is to avoid spreading diseases to you juvenile stock.
Cut the fish. Once you have established cause of death, cut into few pieces.
Boil the fish. Some fish farmers throw dead fish into ponds for the fish to eat. This is a dangerous practice, because pathogens can easily pass to the stock causing huge loss of fish. Therefore oil the fish to reduce the possibility of spreading diseases.
Let the boiled fish cool. You can’t serve you fish hot or warm fish. You either leave the fish to cool naturally or if you are in a hurry soak the fish in regular water.
Feed them the fish. Once the fish is cool feed them the rest of the fish, then the head last. If you have from 200 juveniles the rest of the fish is consumed in less than a minute.
Next drop the head in the pond. The juvenile fish will swarm the head and pick at it unit you have part of the skull and lower jawbone.
The last stage is to remove the bones. Remove the skull fragment, fish bone.
Drain the pond and refill. If you notice it residue in the water, drain the pond after an hour and refill.
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