FILLING THE POND
Fill the pond with water after
properly screening the inlet and stock it within 7 to 10 days of filling.
However, ALWAYS check that the water quality is suitable for fish production
before stocking, especially if treatments have been applied to the pond. If no
water quality test kit is available, place a few catfish in some netting
material for a couple of days before the intended stock date. If the fish do
not die, then most probably the pond water quality is good enough. The pond can
then be stocked. If the fish die, wait for a couple of days and try again.
Stocking the pond as soon as possible after it has been filled, gives the
stocked fish a head start before other animals, such as frogs and predatory
insects establish themselves. Frogs can tell when fish are in a pond. Frogs
search for ponds with water but no fish to lay their eggs. When unwanted
animals become established in ponds, they:
i. Can
predate upon the fingerlings,
ii. Consume
some of the fish feed, and
iii.
Compete for dissolved oxygen
This results in reduces fish
survival, increase FCRs, and a slight reduction in carrying capacity due to
competition. Consequently, depending on the severity, yields obtained are lower
than would be expected. A pond full of tadpoles is especially disastrous if you
are going to stock very young catfish fry.
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