Catfish farming has gained popularity as one of the most lucrative agribusinesses in Africa. The requisite knowledge of stocking catfish in concrete pond and other types of ponds has been a challenge to farmers.

Lack of knowledge on proper stocking alone contributes to one of the reasons many fish farmers have a high rate of mortality on the farms.

In this article we will show you two things;

1. Stocking density of catfish in concrete ponds.
2. Stocking density of catfish in earthen ponds.

In Nigeria, farmers prefer raising catfish to other species because of its rugged spirit that adapts to our climate/ environment.

Due to the opportunities abound in fish farming; a lot of people continue to jump into the business thinking they could become instant millionaires without first asking questions.

The truth is, fish farming is not the way most media houses hyped it to be. So many newbies have been deceived into purchasing thousands of fish without being told what and what is involved (in terms of feeding and stocking).

Many lost their fish as no one taught them the secrets involved in stocking the catfish in the pond, pond construction, treatment and feeding.

Reading this piece could be because you have probably made one or two mistakes in the business or you want to seek knowledge before you start fish farming. Here, I will show you the untold truth about stocking catfish in both concrete and earthen ponds.

Number of Fish to a Pond

This stage is where new fish farmers get it all wrong. The size of your pond determines the quantity of fish to be stocked.

That you have enough money to buy 3,000 to 5,000 fingerlings or juveniles for a start is never a problem. The big issue is not having alternative ponds to sort the fishes as they grow because most of them will die due to inadequate oxygen while some will end up having stunted growth.

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Cost of Feeding 1000 Catfish in Nigeria (2023 Review)

Do not start construction of alternative ponds after stocking because they will grow faster before the work is completed and when that happens, you will definitely lose some of your fish. Get everything ready before you start.

In this piece, we are going to focus only on the earthen pond and concrete pond.

Stocking Catfish in Earthen Pond

In an earthen pond(s), stock a maximum of 2 fish per square metre. The stocking density of catfish in earthen ponds is slightly different from that of concrete ponds.

To find out how many square meters’ your pond is, simply multiply the width by the length and the depth then divide by 3. Whatever you get after your calculation is multiplied by 2.

Example

Width x Length x Depth                  3                                                                                                                   

10ft x 15ft x 4ft                3                                                                                                               

    600/3  = 200sqm                   

2 x 200sqm = 400 fish

The above calculation shows that for earthen pond size of 10ft by 20ft having a depth of 4ft can comfortably be stocked with 200 fish.

Stocking Catfish in Concrete Pond

Let’s see the stocking density of catfish in concrete ponds.

Understand that the style for stocking catfish in the concrete pond(s) is quite different when it comes to earthen ponds, tarpaulin, and tank ponds.

Unlike the earthen pond, we stock a maximum of 5fishes per square metre in concrete ponds.

Example

Width x Length x Depth                       3                                                                                                                   

10ft x 15ft x 4ft                3                                     

600/3 = 200sqm                   

5 x 200sqm = 1,000 fishes

Therefore, 1000 catfishes can comfortably be introduced into a concrete pond of this size.

Plastic Tanks

This section was is added for the benefit of those who asked about the stocking density of catfish in plastic tanks. Just like the concrete ponds, plastic tanks have different sizes.

The calculation for stocking catfish in plastic tank is simple, just apply the same method we use in the concrete pond.

In catfish farming, there is no calculator that generates stocking density automatically for your farm. Use the simple formula provided in this post to do the work by yourself.

Reminder

What you will be doing in the next six months after successfully stocking your pond(s) is feeding. Feeding starts a day after you must have introduced the fishes into the pond not immediately.

Note that 80% of your investment will go into feeding the fish. Here is where smart farmers survive the system more than the lazy ones. What every smart farmer does is learn how to manage his resources by studying to know how to formulate local feed to supplement.

You can feed your fish with already formulated fish feed or locally formulated ones. Find out how much it will cost to feed 1000 catfish so as to know how to maximize profit using locally formulate fish feed.

Summary

Fish farming is a lucrative business, if you do it well you make profits. If you fail to learn the tricks involved you will lose and go home.

Before venturing into this kind of business, try to learn every possible thing you see about catfish farming. You could consult someone who has been in the business for a couple of years or someone who has managed a catfish farm in the past. By so doing you avoid mistakes that could send you parking from the business.

For those who do not have the resources needed to venture into fish farming, we have an article on how to raise capital to start your own farm you should read.

Remember that there is no catfish stocking density calculator that will work other than your brain and the formulas above.

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