Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center Aquaculture Department

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Journals/Magazines Aqua Farm News

1991

Grow-out culture management for

freshwater finfishes

Aquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center

Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Aquaculture Department (1991). Grow-out

culture management for freshwater finfishes. Aqua Farm News, 9(2), 1-4.

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Downloaded from [Link] SEAFDEC/AQD's Institutional Repository

 1 Aqua Farm News IX(2) March-April 1991

GROW-OUT CULTURE MANAGEMENT FOR

FRESHWATER FINFISHES

Several types of grow-out culture systems for freshwater finfishes have been developed
in the Southeast Asian region. Most common are the earthen and concrete pond culture and the
pen and cage grow-out culture in lakes and reservoirs. Each has its own requirements for
species of fish to be cultured, water management, fertilization, feeding schemes, etc. Following
are relevant management techniques commonly applied to the more popular cultured species
in the region.

Item One: Pond Grow-out Management

Pond preparation. Initially, the pond bottom soil is sundried to eliminate undesirable
species. Some undrainable ponds are treated with inorganic pesticides for disinfection purposes.
Submerged and floating weeds are removed as these compete for nutrients in the soil and water,
occupy space intended for fish, and tend to reduce fish harvesting efficiency.
Pond draining and drying are important for the following reasons:
1. Nutrient regeneration. Organic matter mineralization or the conversion of some
nutrients by aerobic process is hastened.
2. Control of unwanted fish population.
3. Reduced oxygen demand of sediments. Aerobic oxidation and decomposition of
organic matter are accelerated. Better pond sediment substrate for benthic fauna is created.
4. Control of vegetation. Weeds that hamper fish culture operations are eradicated.
5. Disease control. Fish louse Argulus and the parasitic copepod Lernea are controlled.
6. Pond maintenance. Removal of excessive sediments and debris in the pond bottom
are facilitated.
Fertilization. Fertilizers enhance natural food productivity in the pond. The amount and
type of fertilizer required by a certain pond vary according to the water and soil qualities in the
pond, bottom mud, and type of fish for culture among others. It is best therefore to conduct soil
and water tests on the site so that proper recommendations on the type and amount of fertilizers
can be given.
There are two types of fertilizer: organic and inorganic. Organic fertilizers are animal
manures and plant wastes containing about 40-50% carbon by dry-weight basis. These materials
usually have low NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) content, and are thus applied in large
quantities. The most commonly used organic fertilizers are poultry, pig, and cattle manure. In
China, night soil or human excreta is also used to fertilize carp ponds.
Inorganic fertilizers are simple inorganic compounds which primarily contain at least one
or two elements of the NPK. Commercial inorganic fertilizers used for pond culture are the same
as those for agricultural crops.
Water quality management. Good water quality is a prerequisite for the propagation of
desirable aquatic organisms. In the pond, it enhances higher survival, better growth, and
increased reproduction.
Important parameters to be considered in order to maintain good water quality are the
following:
1. Dissolved oxygen (DO). It is probably the most critical water quality variable in fish
culture. The primary sources of DO under a fish culture system is through photosynthesis and
from atmospheric oxygen diffusion. Loss of oxygen is caused by plant (micro and macro) and fish
respiration and oxygen diffusion back into the air. Concentrations of DO are lowest in the early
 2 Aqua Farm News IX(2) March-April 1991

morning just before sunrise, increasing to its maximum level in late afternoon, then decreasing
during the night. The desirable level of DO in the pond is about 5 ppm or higher. Fish cease to
feed or grow well if DO level remains at 3-4 ppm.
Oxygen depletion in the pond is caused by (a) excessive water fertility due to fertilization
and/or feeding, resulting in high plant respiration and phytoplankton die-offs and (b) too high
stocking density. Consumption of DO by fish and other organisms for respiration accounts for
the greatest loss of DO.
Low DO level in the pond can be predicted by the color (brownish) of the water and fish
behavior (surfacing especially in the early morning).
Low DO level in the pond can be corrected by (a) emergency aeration technique and (b)
mechanical aeration. The former is done by flushing high DO water into low DO pond. It is
effective and inexpensive where adequate supply of high DO water is available as in streams,
wells, or adjacent ponds. Mechanical aeration makes use of paddlewheel that circulates and
splashes water into the air and the air blower which injects air either at one side of the pond or
through a perforated pipe.
2. pH. lt indicates whether the water is acidic or basic (alkaline) in reaction. To determine
a typical pattern, water pH is usually measured early in the morning (6 am) and in the afternoon
(6 pm). pH values of about 6.5-9.0 at daybreak are considered best for fish production. The acid
and alkaline death points for fish are approximately pH 4 and pH 11, respectively. Although fish
may survive, slow growth of fish occurs with morning pH values between 4 to 6 and 9 to 10.
3. Ammonia (NH3). In freshwater ponds, ammonia occurs as a product of fish metabolism
and decomposition of organic matter by bacteria. There are two types of ammonia in water: the
un-ionized ammonia and the ammonium ion. The un-ionized form of ammonia is toxic to fish,
while the ammonium ion is not, except at extremely high concentrations.
For pond fishes, the toxic levels of un-ionized ammonia range from 0.6 to 2.0 mg/l. High
concentrations of total ammonia-nitrogen usually occur after phytoplankton die-offs at which time
CO2 is also high and pH is low (acidic). However, it is seldom that concentrations of ammonia in
ponds are high enough to adversely affect fish growth.
Clay turbidity. Suspended materials brought about by turbidity reduce light penetration
required for photosynthesis, thereby reducing oxygen generation and phytoplankton production.
When resulting from plankton organisms, such turbidity is desirable in the pond. However, when
turbidity is due to suspended clay particles, it becomes undesirable. A persistent clay turbidity
of 30 cm or less may prevent development of plankton blooms.
Clay turbidity can be avoided by applying organic materials such as cut hay or grasses or
manure in the pond at 0.05 kg/m3 of pond water for a turbidity of 25 ppm and 0.4 kg/m3 for turbidity
of 200 ppm. Another technique is to apply alum (aluminum sulfate, Al2 (SO4)3.14H2O) which
causes suspended clay particles to coagulate and precipitate from the water column within a few
hours. The rate of application is from 25 to 30 mg/l of water. Lime can also be used to prevent
persistent turbidity; however, continuous application of lime causes an increase in water pH.
Fish management. One of the most important considerations in pond management is the
stocking of the appropriate species and quantity of fish. A fishpond can only support so much fish
according to the available space and amount of food present. This limitation is referred to as the
“carrying capacity” or the “maximum standing crop” of a pond. However, the carrying capacity
of the pond can be increased by fertilization and supplemental feeding. Aeration and running
water systems usually increase the amount of DO thus increasing the carrying capacity of a pond.
The stocking rate of a pond can be further increased by polyculture system (culture of
different species with diverse feeding habits in one pond) and by stock manipulation (stocking of
fish of different ages or sizes).
Pond culture involves different management systems and stocking practices. These are:
Monoculture. It is the stocking of a single species in one area which could be monosize,
multistage, or multisize stocking. Monosize stocking means to stock one species at one time and
 3 Aqua Farm News IX(2) March-April 1991

to harvest all fish upon reaching marketable size. Too high stocking density will mean slow growth
and/or survival rates, whereas too low stocking density will result in inefficient utilization of food
in the pond.
To avoid the disadvantages of monosize stocking, a multistage stocking is used where fish
of uniform sizes are stocked in progressively larger ponds as more space is needed. The density
of fish is adjusted based on body size as they are transferred to larger ponds. The smaller ponds
are then prepared for the succeeding batches of younger fish.
Multisize stocking is the stocking of fish of different age groups. Feeding habits of fish vary
as they grow, i.e., fry feed mainly on plankton while adults feed on a variety of feed sources. This
enables periodic harvesting of marketable-sized fish.
Monosex stocking. This practice is most applicable to tilapia where excessive reproduc­
tion needs control. However, this requires considerable expertise in manually separating the sex
of tilapia or in the application of hormones for sex inversion.
Double cropping. It is the stocking of two species in the same pond but during different
seasons or time of culture (in cases where the two species have different culture seasons
depending on the availability of seeds for stocking).
Polyculture. It is the stocking of different species having complementary feeding habits
thereby efficiently utilizing the different feeding niches of the pond. A very good example is the
Chinese carp culture in ponds using bighead, silver, and grass carps.

Item Two: Pen Grow-out Management in Lakes

The fishpen industry in the Philippines was started in 1970 primarily for the culture of
milkfish in Laguna de Bay. The culture of milkfish in pens in the lake proved to be more successful
than that in brackishwater ponds. Today, however, it is not only milkfish that is being cultured but
also tilapia, bighead and silver carps, and the common carp.
The size of pens varies from <1 ha to >100 ha. The principal materials used in constructing
fishpens are bamboos and nylon nets. Palm tree (anahaw) trunks are staked along the periphery
of the pen to give additional strength against strong winds and waves especially during typhoons.
The shape of the pens also varies but most are rectangular or square. However, most operators
agree that circular or oval pens are more advantageous because (1) less material and labor costs
are needed, (2) dirt, obstacles, and water hyacinths carried by winds and waves do not stay in
one place but find a way out of the pen, and (3) fish do not get trapped in the corners during strong
winds and rains but swim around in schools.
Source o f fingerlings for stocking. Fingerlings of milkfish, carp, and tilapia are stocked
directly in the fishpens Nurseries of these species are established elsewhere. For milkfish,
major sources of fingerlings are Malabon (Metro Manila) and Bulacan. Fish fry are collected from
the wild. Bighead and silver carp fingerlings are produced by several hatcheries built mostly
around the vicinity of the lake. Tilapia hatcheries and nurseries are found all over the lake. The
sizes of milkfish and carp fingerlings for stocking range from 6-7 cm. For tilapia, 5-cm fingerlings
are used for stocking.
Time o f stocking. The best time to stock fishpens is between March and June which
coincides with the highest production of natural food in the lake. Temperature ranges from 30
to 33°C which favors fast growth of fish. Also during this time of the year, phytoplankton reaches
a production of about 30 g/m3/day. Primary productivity ranges from 0.5 to 9.0 g C/m3/day.
Pen preparation prior to stocking. Most fishpens have a nursery compartment within the
grow-out pen. Before the fingerlings arrive, the nursery as well as the grow-out pens are netted
using a seine net for predator fish and other species like snakeheads, catfish, etc. which could
wipe out the stock. The peripheral nets are checked for damages where the fingerlings could pass
and escape.
 4 Aqua Farm News IX(2) March-April 1991

Fish stocking in the grow-out compartment. The fingerlings are released from the
nursery compartment by towering one side of the net until all the fish have gone out. In Laguna
de Bay, the stocking density of milkfish or tilapia is regulated by the Laguna Lake Development
Authority (LLDA) at 25 000 ind/ha. For a polyculture system utilizing tilapia, silver carp, bighead
carp, and common carp, a stocking density of 40 ind/m3 is suggested, spread out at the ratio of
30 tilapia: 5 silver carp: 4 bighead carp: 1 common carp. Selective harvesting of tilapia may be
done at intervals of 4-5 months since tilapia reach marketable size (100 g) earlier than the rest
of the stock.
Feeding. Fish are not usually given supplemental feeds as long as primary productivity
is high, especially during summer. However, during times when food production is low, fine rice
bran may be broadcast on the water surface at 10-15 sacks/ha.
Pen maintenance. The area is inspected daily for possible damage to nets. Security
around and inside the fishpen especially during nighttime should be provided to check on
poachers. Guardhouses should be strategically located around the fishpen.
Harvest. Fish can be harvested when they attain a minimum size of about 100 g (10 pieces
to a kilo) for milkfish and tilapia and 1.5-2.0 kg each for bighead and silver carps. Fish are
harvested by purse seine, gill net, or cast net. About 15-20 people are needed to operate a purse
seine.

Item Three: Cage Grow-out Management in Lakes

T he cage m ay be a floating or stationary type. The form er is suitable fo r deeper portions
of the w a te r body w hile the latter is best fo r the shallow er portions. The floating type of cage is
m oored to keep it in place. Size of cage varies from a sm all 3m x 3m x 1.5m to a large 9m x 16m
x 1.5m o r 18m x 20m x 1.5m.
Fish s to c k s . In the Philippines, tilapia are the most com m only used species for cage
culture. Tilapia are stocked at 10-30/m 2 of cage depending on the season. In Laguna Lake, 5-
cm tila p ia fingerlings are stocked at 20/m 2 during the m onths of April to July w hen natural food
is abundant. In 75-120 days, the fish may attain a size range of 150-180 g each. A tower stocking
d ensity is recom m ended during Septem ber to February w hen natural food density is low.
H ow ever, stocking density can be increased if supplem ental feeding of rice bran is used.
M ain ten an ce o f c a g e s . The nets are periodically cleaned of algae and freshw ater
sponges th a t attach to the net as w ell as to the bam boo posts. These m aterials tend to clog the
nets and th u s lim it w a te r circulation in and out of the cage. During inclem ent w eather, cages w hich
are provided w ith cover m ay be subm erged at least a foot beneath the w ater surface to prevent
dam age fro m strong w aves.
H a rv e s t. Total harvest of fish m ay be done w hen m ajority of the stock have reached the
desired size fo r m arket. Partial harvest is done only for fish of harvestable size w hile the sm aller
ones are allow ed to grow further.

Source: A rm ando C. Fermin, “G row -out Culture M anagem ent fo r Freshw ater F infishes” (lecture
notes in A quaculture M anagem ent training course, April 1990), S E AFD EC /AQ D ,
Tigbauan, Iloilo.

COMPARING NUTRIENTS IN WILD AND FARMED FISH

Do farm ed fish m easure up to their w ild cousins in nutrient? T hey certainly do in protein.
It is im portant that farm ed fish should not be com prom ised in this respect because protein is one