The question “How much feed should I
give my fish?” is an all important
question that directly affects profits for any farmer. If fish are underfed, growth rate is slowed down, and if overfed, it reduces profits since feed is the highest operating expense in any farming business.
give my fish?” is an all important
question that directly affects profits for any farmer. If fish are underfed, growth rate is slowed down, and if overfed, it reduces profits since feed is the highest operating expense in any farming business.
Feeding fish correctly means:
1. Giving feed of the correct
nutritional quality for the specified
age of fish,
2. Feeding the right feed size for easy
consumption ( Feed Size),
3. Feeding the correct amounts (Feed
Ration),
4. Feeding at the right time(s) each
day ( Feeding Frequency).
nutritional quality for the specified
age of fish,
2. Feeding the right feed size for easy
consumption ( Feed Size),
3. Feeding the correct amounts (Feed
Ration),
4. Feeding at the right time(s) each
day ( Feeding Frequency).
The amount of feed your fish needs
or Feed Rations and the size of feed
pellets varies over time throughout the
gestation period of the fish and it
should be adjusted as the fish grows.
Smaller sized fish have higher protein
requirement, eat smaller sized feeds
and have quicker growth rates, so their rations should be adjusted more
frequently (preferably weekly) than the
larger sized fish which consume larger
pellets and could be adjusted every 2
weeks.
or Feed Rations and the size of feed
pellets varies over time throughout the
gestation period of the fish and it
should be adjusted as the fish grows.
Smaller sized fish have higher protein
requirement, eat smaller sized feeds
and have quicker growth rates, so their rations should be adjusted more
frequently (preferably weekly) than the
larger sized fish which consume larger
pellets and could be adjusted every 2
weeks.
In order to calculate the amount of
feed needed for each pond, certain
information highlighted below needs to be collected and input into the formula to get the desired result.
feed needed for each pond, certain
information highlighted below needs to be collected and input into the formula to get the desired result.
The required information are as follows:
The number of fish in the pond;
The average weight of the fish
(weight in a sample / no. of fish in
sample);
(weight in a sample / no. of fish in
sample);
Feed Rate which is a percentage of
its body weight (this data could be
gotten from a feed chart of a feed
production company or study
materials)
its body weight (this data could be
gotten from a feed chart of a feed
production company or study
materials)
Feed ration per pond= average fish size (weight) x feed rate (%) x total number of fish in the pond. E.g. If an African catfish of 180 grams
requires a ration of 2.5% of its body
weight, how much food should it be
given per day?
requires a ration of 2.5% of its body
weight, how much food should it be
given per day?
Amount of feed to be fed per day = 180
grams x 2.5/100
= 4.5 grams feed per fish per day.
If there are 1000 fish in the pond, then;
= 4.5 g x 1000 fish = 4,500 g (4.5 kg) of
feed should be weighed out for the day.
grams x 2.5/100
= 4.5 grams feed per fish per day.
If there are 1000 fish in the pond, then;
= 4.5 g x 1000 fish = 4,500 g (4.5 kg) of
feed should be weighed out for the day.
It is important to note that fish do not
feed at the same intensity every day.
The amount of food they take in each
day depends on various factors like the water temperature and other stresses (high pH, ammonia, disease etc.) that are available in the environment.
Feeding Frequency has a role to play
in the utilization of the feeds by the
fish. Feeding frequency is the number
of times fish in a pond are fed daily.
The frequency is important in order to
reduce starvation and have a uniform
growth rate. Smaller sized fish should
be fed more frequently as their
stomach is too small to hold food they
would require for the whole day, whilst fish from 400 g and above could be fed once a day.
feed at the same intensity every day.
The amount of food they take in each
day depends on various factors like the water temperature and other stresses (high pH, ammonia, disease etc.) that are available in the environment.
Feeding Frequency has a role to play
in the utilization of the feeds by the
fish. Feeding frequency is the number
of times fish in a pond are fed daily.
The frequency is important in order to
reduce starvation and have a uniform
growth rate. Smaller sized fish should
be fed more frequently as their
stomach is too small to hold food they
would require for the whole day, whilst fish from 400 g and above could be fed once a day.
For example, the 1,000 fish above
requiring 4.5 kg daily ration should be
fed twice daily. This means that the 4.5
kg of feed should be divided into 2.25
kg to be fed in the Morning and Evening.
requiring 4.5 kg daily ration should be
fed twice daily. This means that the 4.5
kg of feed should be divided into 2.25
kg to be fed in the Morning and Evening.
Also, the Feed Size is important as fish
would find it hard to consume larger
sized pellets.
would find it hard to consume larger
sized pellets.
Culled from; farmerscreed.com/how-much-feed-what-size-and-how-frequently-should-you-feed-your-catfish-free-calculator-included
