Different Steps of Family Fish Farm Management

Family Fish Farm

Ponds are available in many households of rural areas in our country. The ponds are used as a source of water for household activities. Generally in these ponds, some fishes are also cultivated by the old method. For example, fries are released in the pond and household left over rice and other food products are given to them. That�s why; production of this pond is very less. But it is possible to increase enough fish production if the ponds are brought for fish rearing using high technology with proper planning. The fishes can also be sold in the market after meet up the household requirement. Besides, a mini pond can easily be made in the front and back side of the homestead area and the fish can be cultivated in this pond by considering it as family fish farm. This family fish farm can easily be maintained by household women. If women spend some times out of their regular job for fish farming, household protein requirement may be met up and at the same time, they can also earn some extra income. Moreover, employment opportunity may be created for unemployed household members by establishing fish farm in family level.

Cultivable Fish in Household Farm

Some of fishes which can be cultured in household farm and have an economic importance are described below:

A. Local Fish:

Among the local species of fish, Rui, Katla, Mrigel, Kali baush are suitable for cultivation. These fishes are available everywhere in south Asia. During the rainy season (May-July), this type of fish release eggs in the shallow area of tidal river. Fry can be produced in the hatchery by natural or artificial breeding. During fish cultivation, fish meal, oil cake, rice polish, wheat bran etc. are provided as supplementary feed. If provided feed is sufficient, katla becomes 2-3 kg within a year. Rui and mrigel may become 1 kg weight within a year. Fishes of becomes two years old are able to release eggs.

B. Exotic Fish

Some exotic fishes have been brought to our country for culture so that they can easily be adapted in our country and fries can also be easily produced in the hatchery. Some remarkable fishes of this type are Silver carp, Grass carp, Carpio, Thai shwarpunti, Tilapia, Nilotica and Thai pungush. This type of fish can be cultivated as mixed culture with native carp.

Different Steps for Farm Management

Farm should be managed by different sequential activities. Different activities of farm management are: 

A. Management practices before fry stocking in the farm (Pond preparation):

1. Cleaning weed from pond. 
2. Removing predator & unnecessary fish. 
3. Repairing bank of pond. 
4. Application of lime. 
5. Application of fertilization. 
6. Examining the natural feed of pond. 
7. Toxicity test for water.

B. Management practices during fry stocking:

1. Selection of fry species. 
2. Isolation of superior fry. 
3. Fry Purifying. 
4. Fixing the quantity of fry. 
5. Fry Transportation. 
6. Fry stocking and releasing.

C. Management practices after fry stocking

1. Regular manure application.
2. Application of supplementary feed. 
3. Evaluation of fish growth and health management. 
4. Fishing and selling.

Various Equipment�s for Farm Management:

Equipment�s are required at different stages of farm management. The requirement of equipment for farm management at different stages is given below:

Stage of Management	Requirement for Equipment
Before stocking or pond preparation	Chopper, spade, fish killing poison (for example-rotenone), lime, Manure (Organic & inorganic), bucket, drum, manger, mug, secchi disk.
During stocking	Fish larvae, polythene bag, common salt, potassium permanganate, PH paper, and thermometer.
After stocking	Organic or inorganic fertilizer, manger, piece of bamboo, secchi disk, supplement feed, bucket, mug/pot, feeder, lime/gypsum, chopper/sickle, balance, torch for watching, net (lift net, cast net, seine net).

Health Management for Fish:

Fish may be affected by disease during cultivation. Measures should be taken instantly by observing the health condition of fish pulling them through netting in the pond once at every month. The general symptoms of fish disease include the inhibition of their normal movement, destruction of natural color of gill, red/ black/ white spotted on their body, fishes are in off feed or intake less, feeling their body excessively coarse. During culturing, fish can be affected by some common diseases like ulcer, tail and fit rot, red futki, gill rot and argulus. If disease breaks out in the fish pond, advice should be taken from Fisheries Officer and management should be taken accordingly.

Fish Ulcer: Initially, punti, shol, taki, and subsequently carp fish are affected by this disease. Generally, the disease is observed in winter and summer. Disease prevention is easier than cure. Easy way of disease prevention is to apply lime in the pond regularly and to keep natural feed stable by applying fertilizer regularly in the pond. Some supplementary feeds are to be applied along with fish, extra fries are not to be stocked, no harmful products are thrown into the pond, no extra mud is allowed at the pond ground and no cast netting is to be applied in the pond frequently.

Some general problems and remedies of pond

A. Floating and suffocating of fish (lack of oxygen in the pond)

The problem of lack of oxygen in the pond water is caused due to the presence of excess mud at the pond ground, fermentation of organic matter, application of more fertilizer, turbidity, cloudy environment and increasing temperature. It causes the death of fish and shrimp. The mouth of dead fish remains opened condition due to lack of oxygen.

Remedies: Supply of oxygen in the pond can be increased by swimming in the pond, stirring pond water by hitting bamboo or by pulling "horra". In crisis moment, clean fresh water should be supplied or scattered by pump in the pond.

B. Green Layer on Water

This problem is caused by producing of extra green algae. It causes the inhibition of normal breathing of fish and suffocating fish on water. Environment is deteriorated by spoilage of algae. It causes the death of fish and shrimp.

Remedies: Algae layer can be removed out by thin cotton cloth. Temporarily supply of fertilizer and feed should be off. Water may be changed if required. It can be controlled biologically by releasing few big sized silver carp.

C. Red Layer on Water

This problem is cased for red algae or excess iron. It causes the inhibition of sunlight entering into the pond water. Production of natural feed for fish and shrimp is reduced. Moreover, it causes the lack of oxygen in water. Small packets with copper sulphate making at 12-15g per decimal are tied with bamboo and placed 10-15 cm deep in the pond water. Wave which can be created by air help to mix copper sulphate with pond water and algae can be removed out.

Remedies: Algae can be removed out by pulling straw or coiled banana leaves on water or using cotton cloth.

D. Turbid water

Water can be turbid by entering rain fall water into the pond. This may also happen due to the absence of grass on the bank of pond. That�s why sunlight can not be entered into the pond water, fish gill is damaged and availability of natural feed in pond is decreased.

Remedies: Lime (1-2 kg/decimal), Gypsum (1-2 kg/decimal), or copper sulphate (240-245 g/decimal) can be applied in the pond.

E. Gas storing in the mud of the bottom of the pond

Cause: This problem is arised due to the presence of excess mud in the bottom of the pond and decomposition of huge quantity of creepers and wastes. As a result, fishes die due to the toxicity of water.

Remedies: Excess mud has to be removed out from the pond when it is dried. Gas in bottom layer will be removed out by pulling horra.

The main objective of establishing household fish farm is to meet up household fish requirement and at the same time if possible develop the household financial status by selling some extra fishes in the market.