Can a newly dug pond be used to raise rice field eels?

SummaryYes, rice field eels can be raised, but the pond area and depth must be controlled according to the size of the rice field eels. To prevent the water temperature from getting too high in summer, the pond should be dug somewhat deeper. Place about 40 cm of fertile organic soil in the pond so the rice field eels can burrow easily, and also build barriers and design measures to prevent the rice field eels from escaping. The pond needs regular fertilizing and disinfecting to ensure water quality and prevent disease, and bait must also be added in appropriate amounts. In addition, someone must supervise it daily to prevent the rice field eels and fish from being stolen.

1. Points to note when digging and building a pond

1. Rice field eels are agile and escape very easily, so when digging a pond, the pond's practicality must be considered in light of the characteristics of rice field eels. The pond area is best kept at about 10-20 sq m. Depending on the size of the rice field eels, the pond depth should also differ: young rice field eels adapt to a depth of about 40 cm, while adult rice field eels can live in a pond about 1 m deep.

2. The pond is best made of brick with a cement-rendered surface or of lime-sand-soil mixture. To prevent the temperature from getting too high in summer, which raises the water temperature and affects the growth of rice field eels, it is best to dig the pond somewhat deeper. If necessary, some soil can be spread on the bottom of the pond, and the inside of the pond must be smooth and not leak water. A “T”-shaped pond opening can prevent rice field eels from escaping, and the drainage outlet and water inlet of the pond must also be fitted with corresponding barriers to prevent rice field eels from escaping with the incoming and outgoing water. In addition, to make it convenient for rice field eels to burrow in the pond, about 40 cm of soft, moderately textured fertile organic soil should be placed in the pond.

2. Daily management matters

1. Regular fertilizing

Depending on the season, the type and amount of fertilizer applied differ. Taking 670 sq m as an example, in February 1 kg of organic manure needs to be applied. After summer arrives, phosphorus fertilizer and nitrogen fertilizer are mainly used, and the fertilizing method changes: they must be applied separately. Fertilizing should be done on a sunny morning, mixing the fertilizer with water and sprinkling it evenly over the pond. On the first day, apply 5 kg of phosphorus fertilizer; on the second day, switch to 7.5 kg of ammonium bicarbonate. Fertilize regularly once every half month.

2. Ensuring bait and water quality

Silver carp can make the pond water more fertile. To ensure the rice field eels have enough bait fish, the number of bait fish is increased as the rice field eels grow larger, but putting in too many bait fish will cause a shortage of food for the silver carp, leading to an imbalance in the pond's biological proportions. Therefore, in addition to putting in bait fish every day, pelleted feed made from corn, cake meal, bran, fish bone meal, vitamins and the like also needs to be added 2 times.

While ensuring sufficient bait, changes in water quality must also be observed at all times. If fish come to the surface to gasp for air, the aeration equipment must be turned on immediately, and wastewater must also be drained and fresh water added regularly every week to ensure the pond's water quality.

3. Pond management and disease prevention

The farmer needs to be by the fish pond every day, observing the condition of the rice field eels and fish at all times; this can also prevent people from coming to steal fish and rice field eels.

Besides supervising the pond daily, close attention must also be paid to the development of the fish and rice field eels, and fish medicine must be applied regularly to prevent fish diseases. In addition to changing the water regularly every week, in summer the pond water must also be disinfected with quicklime or bleaching powder once every half month. The times for applying fish medicine and disinfecting must be staggered from the fertilizing times, so as not to affect the disinfection and fertilizer-making effects.