Detailed Explanation of Key Technical Points for Mandarin Fish Pond Aquaculture

As people's living standards continue to rise, wild salmon falls far short of meeting market demand, so healthy salmon aquaculture has good development prospects. Mandarin fish is also called mandarin fish, jihua fish, etc. It belongs to the order Perciformes, genus Siniperca, and is widely distributed. It reproduces in all major river systems and lakes. Mandarin fish has tender flesh, few bones, good flavor and rich nutrition. It is a delicacy at banquets and is deeply favored by consumers. In ponds, a small number of mandarin fish can be polycultured to clear wild trash fish, and they can also be raised in dedicated ponds. It is currently one of the popular species in freshwater aquaculture.

I. Living habits

Mandarin fish is a typical carnivorous fish. During artificial feeding, dead fish, dead shrimp, etc. can be fed. Male fish mature at age three, and female fish mature at age four. Their growth rate is relatively fast. In the same year they can reach 50-100 grams, in the second year they can reach about 0.5 kg, and in the third year they can grow to 1-1.5 kg.

II. Pond conditions

For ponds used to raise adult mandarin fish, the area should preferably be 3-8 mu, the water depth should be more than 1.5 m, and in summer the water depth should be about 2.5 m. The bottom quality is best if it is sandy loam with less humus. There should be sufficient water sources, fresh water quality, and flowing water is even better. The pond water dissolved oxygen should be required to be above 5 mg/L, pH 7-8, and transparency above 30 cm.

III. Cultivation of bait fish

The bait fish culture area is 3-4 times that of the mandarin fish pond. Considering the palatability and economic aspects of mandarin fish, bait fish generally choose species such as silver carp and crucian carp, and the stocking density is 300,000-500,000 fry per mu. After the fry are stocked, there is no need to feed immediately. When the number of zooplankton decreases and the fry begin to search for food around the pond, start feeding soybean milk or other feed. In the early stage of cultivation, add more feed once it is eaten up, while in the later stage the size of the bait fish should be controlled, keeping the length of the bait fish between 1/2 and 1/3 of the body length of the mandarin fish.

Generally, when stocking 8-10 cm mandarin fish fingerlings, the bait fish should be controlled at 3-4 cm.

IV. Stocking of mandarin fish fingerlings

When raising mandarin fish alone, 800-1,000 mandarin fish fingerlings of 8-10 cm specifications can be stocked per mu. Some fast-reproducing fish can also be polycultured in the mandarin fish pond as live feed. Generally, 200-400 pairs of tilapia broodstock or 60 two-winter-old crucian carp are stocked per mu. Use a sparse net to divide the pond into two halves, raising mandarin fish on one side and other fish on the other, so that the reproduced young fish pass through the sparse net and become food for the mandarin fish, while the activities of the mandarin fish do not hinder the quiet reproduction of other fish.

V. Feeding management

1. Feeding: Use the method of feeding bait fish at intervals. In the early and late stages of aquaculture, feed once every 7-10 days, and in the middle stage feed about once every 5 days. The quantity ratio of mandarin fish to bait fish should be maintained at 1:5-10. Too few bait fish will affect the feeding and growth of mandarin fish, while too many can easily cause hypoxia and floating head, which is unfavorable to the growth of mandarin fish.

2. Water quality management:

Frequently add and exchange new water, especially from June to September, add and exchange new water once every 5-7 days, 15-20 cm each time, so as to keep the pond water fertile, lively, refreshing and tender, and promote the healthy growth of mandarin fish. Submerged plants such as eel grass and Hydrilla verticillata can be planted around the pond to provide hiding places for the fish and also play a role in purifying water quality. Splash quicklime water once every 15-20 days, 15-20 kg each time. Timely and reasonably turn on the aerator to increase the dissolved oxygen in the pond water and prevent fish from hypoxia. At the same time, some oxygen-increasing agents should be prepared so they can be used for rescue when fish suffer hypoxia and floating head.