Detailed Explanation of High-Density Mandarin Fish Farming Techniques, Four Farming Models for You to Choose From

AbstractThe main high-density farming methods for mandarin fish are dedicated pond culture, polyculture, pen culture and cage culture. Dedicated pond culture: the pond area should not be too large; before stocking, the pond must be thoroughly cleared and disinfected, and artificial feeding is mainly used. Polyculture: polyculture includes stocking in adult fish ponds and broodstock ponds, with no special feeding required, as the fish simply eat the miscellaneous fish in the pond. Pen culture: using the miscellaneous fish in rivers and ditches as feed, a section of water surface is enclosed for farming. Cage culture: farming in waters under certain conditions.

The main high-density farming methods for mandarin fish are dedicated pond main culture, pen culture, polyculture and cage culture. We often use dedicated pond culture for mandarin fish, and the general survival rate of farming is as high as over 90%, but if the stocking density is too high, the growth rate of mandarin fish will be slower; the survival rate of polycultured mandarin fish is relatively low, at about 40%.

1. Dedicated pond culture

The pond conditions and stocking area are not suitable to be too large, generally about 0.2 hectares, with a water depth of more than 1.5 m, good drainage and irrigation conditions, and it is best to be able to maintain flowing water frequently. The stocking density is about 4500 fish per 1000 sq m. Before stocking, we must thoroughly clear the pond and use lime water for disinfection, which helps increase the survival rate. Artificial feeding of bait is generally used. Mandarin fish have relatively strict requirements for bait: first, it must be live; second, it must have no hard spines; third, it must be suitable in size; fourth, it must be supplied in a timely manner.

2. Polyculture

Polyculture includes stocking in adult fish ponds and broodstock ponds. Stocking is generally carried out in June-July each year, with mandarin fish about 3.5 cm long stocked at 5000-7000 fish per hectare. Polycultured mandarin fish generally just eat the miscellaneous fish in the adult fish ponds and broodstock ponds, with no special feeding required, and the stocking amount can be controlled according to the number of miscellaneous fish in the pond.

During polyculture, we need to pay attention to the following: First, only one variety of mandarin fish can be polycultured in the fish pond to prevent small-sized varieties from being swallowed. Second, mandarin fish are very sensitive to drugs, so we must use drugs cautiously to avoid unnecessary losses. If drugs are needed, the dosage must be precise, and extra attention is needed during high summer temperatures; generally, do not use drugs or use low-dose drugs. Third, the demand for dissolved oxygen is very high, and the water should not be too fertile, so we need to regularly add new water to improve the pond water quality.

3. Pen culture

Pen culture mainly takes advantage of the relatively abundant wild miscellaneous fish in rivers and ditches, good dissolved oxygen conditions and good water quality. Generally, a suitable section of a small river or ditch is netted off to enclose a section of water surface, and a small number of mandarin fish are stocked, generally about 5000 fish per hectare. By using the wild miscellaneous fish in the rivers and ditches, the farming cost is reduced and the economic value of mandarin fish is also increased.

4. Cage culture

In cages, generally about 40 fish are stocked per sq m. A cage size of about 100 sq m is sufficient. Cage sites are generally in waters facing the sun, with a broad water surface, sheltered from wind and with a certain slight flow. The bottom of the cage should be at least more than 0.5 m from the water bottom. The mesh size is determined according to the size of the mandarin fish and the bait fish.