Fish Seed Rearing

Availability of quality fish seed is one of the most vital pre-requisite for successful venture of any aquaculture enterprise. Mere production of fish seed without scientific management will ultimately retard the fish production scenario. Thus, stocking the ponds with good quality fingerlings will ultimately result in enhanced fish production and in this regard rearing of fish seed plays a pivotal role. Fish seed rearing of carp basically revolves around the principles and practices of pre – stocking management and post – stocking management.

Pre-stocking management: As pre-stocking management practice, the perennial ponds should be dewatered completely and the bottom should be sun dried so that the pond can be cleared off the undesirable weeds, predatory and weed fishes as well as insects and crustaceans and routine liming and manuring of nursery, rearing and stocking ponds.

Post-stocking management: Post stocking management in fish culture at the very beginning depicts the importance of providing nutrition to the cultured species along with feeding management practices. Secondly the application of lime and fertilizers in regular instalments at periodic intervals for production of natural fish food organisms which is relished upon by the cultured species. While carrying out these management practices, the environment where the fish lives must be made congenial for its healthy growth and thus emphasis should be given to water quality management. After all the necessary technical interventions that in made during post stocking management practices periodical monitoring of the fish pond is of utmost importance in terms of whether the supplementary feed is being utilised properly and also ascertain the effect of lime and fertilizers after its application for maintenance of optimum water quality parameters required for good and healthy growth of fishes. If periodical monitoring is done any deviations from the optimum can be worked upon and made favourable for the cultured fishes which otherwise can affect the growth of fishes.