Food is the main element for living of all animal. Like other animals fish also needs sufficient and nutritious fish feed for proper growth and survival. Maximum fish production is not possible without nutritious feed. The ingredients of well balanced nutritious feed for fish are protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, minerals and water. The feed like moss or aquatic insects which produce naturally in the pond is not sufficient for fish. There are some natural feed in the pond initially which may consumed by fish within a few days. Applying fertilizer in the pond for producing natural feed also can’t make proper and necessary feed production. As a result the fishes can’t grow fast. Along with natural feeds, supplementary feed ensures the fast growth of fish. So, it is a must to use supplementary feed in the pond for high production of fish within short time in small place.
Different Types of Fish Feed
Generally fish feed are of two types. Natural feed and supplementary feed. This two types are described below.
Natural Fish Feed
The feed which grows naturally in the pond or stream for the natural fertility of soil and water and by applying fertilizer is called natural feed of fish. Natural feed is the main source of necessary feed for surviving. Availability of natural feed indicate the primary production capability of a stream. The natural feed of fish are below.
- Plankton
- Wolffia, eichhornia, pistia, lemna
- Tiny aquatic insects
- Rotted part of animal and plants
- Basal organic elements
- Different types of grasses (napier, para etc.)
Supplementary Fish Feed
Fish needs some extra feed along with available natural feeds in water for their regular growth. This extra feed which are provided to fish is called supplementary feed of fish. The ingredients of supplementary feed for fish are below.
- Rice bran
- Refined pulse and wheat roughage
- Mustard or sesame cake
- Fish-meal (fish powder)
- Crop grain
- Silk kit meal
- Blood and innards of bird or animal
- Green leaves of various vegetables
- Minerals and vitamins
- Kitchen leftovers
- Maize powder and refined chaff
- Dried molasses etc.
Thank you very much! Your site is very useful and helpful for the new farmers. I am from Colorado and have a pond with hundreds of catfish. I have a question, can I feed them cattle innards? There is a butcher house in my town and I can purchase cattle innards cheaply.
Thanking you,
GT
Yes you can feed them cattle innards. If you find cattle innards cheaply, then it will minimize feeding costs and maximize your profit. Thank you!
@roysfarm…what if the fish are still juveniles? Doesn’t it depend on the growth stage?
If you’re interested in high protein worms for fishes then please contact me on [email protected]
Can I set up in Kitengela where we will depend on rain water and water transported to the farm. Also place has black cotton soil…
We are not sure! Please contact any local expert. Thank you!
I just want to personally thank you guy! Your site is very useful and helpful for both old farmers and new farmers. I am from Nigeria but live in Britain and am thinking of going into commercial fish farming. I have a question, can I have you help with a business plan and cost.
Thanking you,
CI
Pleased to hear that, you have found our site helpful! But we have not any ready business plan or project report based on Nigeria. You can contact any existing farmers in your area. Thanks for your kind consideration!
Yeah, I would like to express my deepest thanks to you for the knowledge you keeps on providing us ,how I can get your unique advice
Am a new fish farmer in Gatundu south i have currently started with 500 fingerling’s my main concern is the control of frogs they are multiplying very first my pond is earthen.I have learnt a lot from your piece thanks..
@simon. You should cover the perimeter of the pond/holding facility with a net such that frogs can’t hop in. Clear the grasses around your pond and make sure the inlet and outlet pipes are perfectly in place. You’d have gotten rid of them by doing just that!
THANKS my contacts 0720715799
How many Cat fishes can be put in a 15*8*3 feet pond and how much care does cat fish need in a temperature of 45′ c to 2′ c(Punjab), India.
You can stock up to 30 catfish in your pond. Catfish requires less care than other fish species. They will be fine and grow rapidly if you feed them properly. Thank you!
I need to attend a training course about Tilapia fish farming and its feeding whereas in India or online.
Could you help me in this please.
sir,i want to do salmon fish farming in jharkhand state ..can u help me.what is necessary for this…give me some details about this..
We are sorry! We have no idea about cultivating Salmon fish. Thank you!
i have 2 acres of pond how many Rao fishes can be put in the pond ?any special feed for faster fish growth ???
You can stock up to 50,000 Rui fish in your 2 acres pond. You can use commercial carp fish feeds for faster growth. Thank you!
Dear sir ,I have a small earthen pond of 8000sq ft, how many fingerlings size ranging 3-5inch can be grown if I keep the fingerlings in the pond for 3-5yrs?Pls help me Sir.
If you plan for keeping the fish for long time, then stocking less will be good. Stocking between 1000 and 1500 fish in your 8000 square feet pond will be good. Thank you!
Thank you so much for the knowledge you have provided through this medium. More people can make use of extra space and time they have to produce fish for both domestic use and some for sale to recover what is invested in the fish farm.