How to Choose a Site for Yellow Catfish Cage Culture

1) Waters with slight flow and certain wind waves are both suitable for setting up cages. For large and medium-sized reservoirs, lakes, rivers and other water bodies, compared with ponds, their characteristic is that they have certain wind waves and slight flow. The site for cage culture of yellow catfish requires certain wind waves and slight flow. Reservoirs and lake bays with wind waves not exceeding level 5 are relatively suitable for cage culture of yellow catfish. In addition, the water flow is required to have some velocity, that is, slight flow, with a flow velocity of 0.05 to 0.2 m per second being appropriate.

2) The water quality has not been polluted by industry. For the water quality of yellow catfish cage culture, it is required to be free of pollution such as industrial “three wastes” and to fully meet the water quality standards for pollution-free aquaculture.

3) There is a certain water depth and relatively good bottom sediment. Because yellow catfish has the habit of liking darkness and fearing light, the water area where cages are set up is required to have a certain depth. Generally speaking, lake bays, reservoir bays and rivers with a water flow of more than 3.0 m can all be used for cage culture of yellow catfish, and the water depth is best between 3 and 6 m. In this way, in dry seasons, the cages will not be stranded; in flood seasons, because the cages can be raised and lowered, they will not be affected either. However, water areas with excessively high flow velocity cannot have cages set up for yellow catfish culture. As for the bottom sediment, it is required that there is not too deep silt and that it does not contain organic or inorganic matter exceeding pollution-free standards.

4) A wind-sheltered, sun-facing location with relatively strong sunlight. Because the suitable growth temperature for yellow catfish is 22 to 28°C, when choosing a cage site, lake bays and reservoir bays with sufficient sunlight and relatively good wind-shelter conditions should be selected. If cages are set up in areas where sunlight is difficult to reach for a long time, then the water temperature will be relatively difficult to reach the needs of yellow catfish growth. If the cages in the water body cannot relatively well avoid strong winds, it will affect the stability and safety of the cages. In addition, the location for setting up cages is required to avoid complex places such as wharves, sluice gates and navigation channels.