For your catfish farm to be successful you would require several things to be in place, one of such category of things you want right are the tools you require for the farm to be functional.
Below are a few tools and equipments you can not do without as a catfish farmer.
Water pumps:
Water pumps are crucial for our needs as fish farmers. Our fish live in water, however, every once in a while, we need to change the water to provide optimum growing conditions for the fish.
To do this, we need water pumps to pump out the water and pump new ones in. Water pumps are extremely crucial machinery that every farmer must have on the farm.
There are electrical and gasoline water pumps, the gasoline pumps in our experience are better able to move large volumes of water at a go and are more suitable for pumping water out of the existing ponds.
Each type of pump is useful, both electrical and gasoline, and the choice of machine, generally depends on the availability of electricity.
Electric pumps generally have a higher upfront cost but tend to be cheaper to run in the long run, compared to gasoline pumps.
Aerators:
For the farming of African catfish, aerators are an essential piece of machinery.
They are utilized to supply oxygen to the water, which is necessary for the fish’s well-being and development.
Aerators can be utilized in pond systems and come in a variety of sizes and types.
Some aerators agitate the water and boost oxygenation by using mechanical devices like paddlewheels or propellers.
Others add oxygen to the water by using diffusers or tiny bubbles.
Aerators can be manually operated or set to run on a timer and are commonly powered by electricity.
To guarantee the fish’s optimum health and growth, it’s critical to routinely check the water’s oxygen levels and modify aeration as necessary.
A pond water that is heavily deprived of oxygen might lead to the death of your fish, leaving the pond water open can help with the aeration of the pond.
If you are using an alternative feeding method like duckweed, be careful to ensure they do not cover the entire pond surface, as they would deprive the pond of oxygen. Using an aerator in this case is a must.
Feeders:
These are machines that are used to regularly feed the fish, ensuring that they get the nourishment they need for growth and development.
Feeders can be utilized in pond systems and come in a variety of sizes and types.
Some feeders require input from the farmer, such as manually dispensing the feed, while other feeders are automated and can be set to run on a timer.
It is crucial to pick a feed that meets the nutritional requirements of the fish as well as their age, size, and body type.
It’s also crucial to keep an eye on how much food the fish are receiving because overfeeding might result in waste and subpar performance.
However, when starting your fish farm, remember that you do not necessarily require a feeder to get your job done. You can simply pour your fish feed into a big bowl, fetch and throw it to your fish in the pond.
Netting;
It is intended to keep fish contained in their specified region and shield them from predators like birds or snakes, tortoises, frogs, etc.
It is crucial to pick a netting material that is strong and resilient enough to repel any potential predators as well as the environment.
The netting must be installed and maintained correctly as well.
Having a Net over your pond is a must. A single frog in your earthen pond could wreak massive havoc over the course of the time it takes your fingerlings to mature enough to attack it.
Water Testing Kit;
A vital piece of gear for African catfish farming is a water testing kit.
To ensure the best possible health and growth of the fish, it is utilized to measure the pH, temperature, and other critical water quality parameters.
While some kits are manual and need the farmer to manually collect a water sample to test it using various reagents or chemicals, others are automated and deliver results right away.
It is crucial to routinely test the water to make sure it is within the fish’s ideal range and to make any required corrections to maintain the highest possible level of water quality.
The results of these test kits would inform important decision-making on the fish farm.
PVC Pipes;
PVC pipes are required to circulate water and connect various components of the system.
While some plastic pipes are used to connect the aerator or feeder, other plastic pipes are used to connect the water pump to the pond or tank.
It’s crucial to pick a pipe material that can endure pressure from the water running through it as well as the environment.
In order to guarantee the effectiveness and dependability of the system, it is also important to install and maintain the pipes appropriately.