How long does it take for silver carp to reach market size?

SummaryArtificially farmed silver carp generally takes about 2 years, with the first year for raising fingerlings and the second year for raising market-size fish. Before stocking the fry, the pond must be disinfected and base fertilizer applied to build fertility. Summer fry are stocked in May-June, usually in a polyculture model, which can save farming water and also promote fish growth. Feeding should follow the four-fixed principle to ensure sufficient plankton in the water, and daily management should be done well. When the temperature drops below 10°C, the fish should be combined into one pond for safe overwintering.

Generally, artificial farming of silver carp takes about two years. In the first year, mainly fingerlings are raised; by the end of the year, the fry stocked that year can basically reach a size of about 3-5 liang. In the second year, market-size fish are raised, and body weight can generally reach about 4-6 jin. If sufficient bait is supplied, the size of fish in the same year can generally reach about 500-800 g, and the body weight of three-year-old fish can reach about 6-8 jin. In natural waters, the body weight of silver carp can even reach 60-80 jin.

1. Preparation before stocking

The pond area for farming silver carp is best controlled at about 4-8 mu, and the water depth is required to be about 1.5-2 m. Before stocking fry, disinfect and fertilize the pond. When farming silver carp, the base fertilizer applied to the pond should be appropriate, and stocking should avoid the peak period of trichodina.

2. Stocking summer fry

Generally, summer fry are stocked in May-June. Both single-species farming and mixed farming can be used. At present, farmers mostly use 2-3 kinds of fish for mixed feeding. Raising different kinds of fish together can make full use of the farming water body, and to a certain extent can also save feed input and promote fish growth and development.

3. Feeding management

Silver carp mainly feed on plankton in the water, so the pond water is required to be fertile to ensure sufficient plankton in the water. Before stocking fingerlings, fertilize the pond. After stocking summer fry, green manure and decomposed manure also need to be applied to the pond. During the farming process, regularly add fresh water to the pond to ensure the water color is brown-green.

Feeding should adhere to the principles of fixed time, fixed location, fixed quality, and fixed quantity to reduce the feed waste rate.

4. Daily supervision

Observe the water color in the pond and the state of the fish every day, and promptly remove weeds at the pond edge and rotting impurities in the water to ensure water quality. Feeding platforms should be cleaned and disinfected frequently, and the feed given must be fresh and hygienic. Install facilities in the pond to prevent escape, theft, and harmful organisms. Strengthen disease prevention in daily management, regularly check the growth status of the fish with nets, and reasonably adjust feed feeding.

5. Pond combining and overwintering

In late autumn and early winter, when the water temperature drops below 10°C, the fish stop eating. At this time, promptly take the fish out of the pond and concentrate them in a deeper pond for overwintering. One week before taking the fish out and combining them into one pond, stop feeding the fish. It is best to take the fish out of the pond on a sunny day. Operate carefully when netting to avoid harming the fish, which could cause them to become infected with saprolegniasis during overwintering and cause unnecessary losses.

Generally, the water depth of the holding pond is best controlled at more than 2 m, and it should be sheltered from the wind and face the sun, with little sludge at the bottom of the pond. After the fish are combined into the holding pond, prevent low oxygen content in the water caused by ice on the surface from affecting fish growth, and also prevent water birds from harming the fish.