A Complete Guide to Scientific Fish Farming

• Produced with modern technology and careful attention, under the supervision of the country's leading nutrition specialists.
• Made under high heat and steam pressure, so the feed is fully sterilized.
• High water stability gives fish more time to feed easily.
• An appealing aroma and pellet shape make the feed easy for fish to accept.
• Delivers a strong feed conversion ratio (FCR).
• Ensures fast fish growth, making higher returns possible in less time.
• Strict quality control is maintained at every stage of production.

The pond should ideally be rectangular, flood-free, and have a level bottom. Best results come from a depth of 5–6 feet and an area of 1–2 acres (3–6 bigha). Water supply and drainage arrangements should be in place as needed.

For an existing pond, repair the banks and bottom, remove weeds, and eliminate predatory or unwanted fish species. For farming Gulsha, koi, shing, and magur, fence the pond with netting 2 feet high to stop fish from escaping.

Without proper pond preparation, fish are more likely to fall ill, grow poorly, and suffer higher mortality at the fingerling stage. So the following points must be followed—

• Keep pond banks as sturdy as possible; repair any erosion immediately.
• If holes appear in the banks, control crabs or rats and seal the holes.
• Drain the pond until the bottom soil cracks.
• Keep the pond clear of aquatic weeds like water hyacinth, water celery, duckweed, and morning glory — these block sunlight from reaching the bottom, hinder fish movement, and degrade water quality as they decay.

Applying lime to the pond is essential to protect the water environment, raise soil and water pH, disinfect, boost mineral availability, prevent disease, clear turbid water, and remove toxic gases.

When to apply lime:

• During pond preparation.
• After applying rotenone or any other toxic chemical, to neutralize its effect in the water.
• When water pH drops.
• When excess mud and ammonia gas build up at the bottom.
• When plankton die off and the water turns turbid or foul-smelling.
• When floodwater enters the pond.

Apply fertilizer 5–7 days after liming, or 8–10 days before releasing fingerlings. All fertilizer should be dissolved in water before applying. Don't fertilize on cloudy or rainy days — apply only in sunny or normal weather.

The prerequisite for fish farming is sourcing healthy, strong fingerlings of a good breed. If they aren't available from natural water bodies like the Padma, Jamuna, or Halda, collect fingerlings produced by a government or good-quality hatchery. If larger fingerlings aren't easily available, it's a good idea to keep a nursery pond on the farm. When collecting fingerlings, check—

• Whether the fingerlings are active, bright, and have slick, glossy skin.
• Whether they're free of any sensory defects.
• Whether they're free of disease or injury.
• Whether they form a sufficiently uniform group in age and size.

Releasing fingerlings:

• Morning or afternoon, when temperatures are cooler, is the right time to release fingerlings. Avoid releasing them in the harsh midday sun, on cloudy days, during continuous rain, or in low-pressure weather.
• It's best to choose a shaded spot in the pond for release.

After releasing fingerlings:

• Regularly monitor water color, turbidity, transparency, dissolved oxygen, and plankton presence.
• Feed at a fixed time and place every day — using the tray method gives good results.
• Checking fish health every 10–15 days makes it easy to track the feed conversion ratio (FCR).
• Stop feeding during heavy rain, dense fog, or when temperatures go above 38°C or below 10°C.
• For catfish species, feeding after dusk and before dawn gives better results.

• Adjust the daily feed amount according to species, age, and weight.
• Take the necessary steps to control parasites living in the pond.
• To guard against winter disease, applying 10 kg of lime per bigha in Ashwin–Kartik (October–November), followed by 10 kg of salt after a 7-day gap — repeated twice — lowers the chance of disease.