Detailed Explanation of Key Technical Points for Monoculture of Snakehead in Ponds
Snakehead is now a relatively well-developed project in the past two years. In previous years, the market price of snakehead remained in a sluggish state. As people's awareness and understanding of snakehead have grown, more and more people enjoy eating snakehead and have come to know its value. Therefore, the market space for snakehead is gradually expanding!
Techniques for Monoculture of Snakehead in Ponds
1. Pond conditions and supporting facilities. 2 ponds, each with an area of 0.33 hectares, pond depth 1.8 m, water depth 1.5 m, loam bottom soil, silt 10 cm thick, convenient drainage and irrigation, abundant and pollution-free water source, and with production supporting facilities, complete with water, electricity, roads, and a management shed, and each pond equipped with one 1.5 kW aerator.
2. Shelter setup. Water hyacinth, alligator weed and other aquatic plants are transplanted in the pond as shelter, accounting for about 1/6-1/5 of the pond area.
3. Fingerlings. The fingerling size is 10 cm, disease-free and injury-free high-quality snakehead (Channa argus) fingerlings.
4. Fingerling stocking. Snakehead fingerlings are stocked in early April, at a stocking density of 6,000 fish/667 sq m, both ponds stocked to full capacity in one go, with a total stocking of 60,000 fish. 15 days before stocking, 75 kg of quicklime per 667 sq m is used to clear and disinfect the pond; at stocking, the fish are soaked and disinfected in 4% salt water.
5. Bait feeding. In the early stage after fingerlings are stocked, the bait is cut into suitable mouth-size pieces for feeding; once the fish grow larger, they can also be fed directly. Adhere to the “four fixed” feeding principle, feeding 2-3 times per day, with the daily feeding amount at 6%-8% of the total body weight of fish in the pond, and adjusted according to the fish's feeding, weather, water quality and other conditions. Feeding must not be interrupted, but when there is sudden weather change, water quality deterioration, or abnormal fish activity, measures to reduce or stop feeding should be taken.
6. Water quality regulation. Water level and water quality should be regulated in a timely manner. Especially in high-temperature seasons, fresh water needs to be added once every 7-10 days, with 15-20 cm added each time. At other times, fresh water is added once every half month, always keeping the pond water transparency at 25-35 cm. In case of severe weather or fish gasping at the surface, turn on the aerator to increase oxygen. At the same time, every 20-30 days, splash the entire pond once with quicklime water at a concentration of 20X10(-6), to improve water quality and prevent fish diseases.
7. Fish disease prevention and control. Prevention is the priority. Strictly control the bait to ensure it is fresh, clean, and disinfected before feeding; the feeding platform is disinfected with quicklime once a week. From April to May, to prevent saprolegniasis, splash the entire pond once with 1 g of bleaching powder per cubic meter of water; from May to September, to prevent bacterial gill rot, splash the entire pond once with 1 g of bleaching powder per cubic meter of water every 30 days. When fish diseases are found, diagnose promptly and apply the appropriate medicine.
The total implementation area of this project is 0.66 hectares, harvested at the end of the year, with an average yield per 667 sq m reaching 5,658 kg, and a survival rate of 94.3%. Total income was 1.069 million yuan, with a net profit of 658,000 yuan.
The Economic Value of Snakehead
As a freshwater prized fish with relatively high economic value, snakehead is known as the “treasure among fish.” It is highly nutritious, with the flesh containing large amounts of protein, higher than the protein content of chicken and beef. According to measurements, 100 g of snakehead flesh contains 19.8 g of protein, 1.4 g of fat, 1.2 g of ash, 57 mg of calcium, 163 mg of phosphorus, 0.5 mg of iron, and 77.9 g of water; it contains 383.5 kilojoules of calories. Its protein contains abundant amino acids. The content of umami amino acids accounts for 47.36% of total amino acids, and the content of essential fatty acids accounts for about 16% of total fatty acids. Therefore, from a nutritional standpoint, snakehead is a comprehensive-nutrition, delicious-fleshed premium health food.
When used for food, snakehead has few bones, with an edible rate of 63%. The edible rate of the Taiwan snakehead (Channa maculata) can reach as high as 75.63%. In cooking, snakehead flesh is smooth and tender, suitable for stir-fried fish slices, stir-fried fish scales, and hot pot; while the spotted snakehead (Channa maculata) is suitable for stewing and simmering, and the fish soup cooked has no fishy smell, with a rich fragrance and tender flesh. The “caiyu slices” prepared with snakehead are a world-renowned delicacy.
For medicinal purposes, snakehead has the effects of removing blood stasis, promoting new tissue growth, and nourishing. Eating snakehead after surgery or trauma has the effects of promoting muscle growth and blood replenishment, astringing, and promoting wound healing. Weak patients, postpartum women, and children who regularly eat snakehead benefit their health. In southern China, especially in Guangdong, Guangxi, and the Hong Kong and Macao regions, snakehead is generally regarded as a nourishing delicacy for patients and the weak among the elderly and young. Guangdong's famous “snakehead and kudzu soup” has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, promoting fluid production and quenching thirst, drawing out toxins and promoting tissue regeneration, and is greatly enjoyed by the general public.
Snakehead Farming Profit and Cost
Snakehead has well-developed accessory respiratory organs, tolerates low oxygen, tolerates fertile water, and does not die for a long time after leaving water, making it suitable for high-density farming. Snakehead farming has high yields and significant economic benefits. Generally, snakehead fry and fingerling yield is around 750 kg/67 sq m, with an output value of around 13,500 yuan.
Adult fish yield is around 450 kg/67 sq m, with an output value of around 7,200 yuan. How much profit snakehead farming makes mainly depends on the snakehead market price, bait price, and whether the farming is successful.
Snakehead fry and fingerling rearing generally uses extruded pellet feed, with a weight-gain cost of around 10.5 yuan per kg, including water, electricity, fish medicine, feed, etc., and a feed conversion ratio of around 1; when feeding bait fish, the feed conversion ratio is generally 3-4, and the size of the feed conversion ratio mainly depends on the quality of the bait fish, while the weight-gain cost per kg depends on the market price of the bait fish, which fluctuates greatly. Adult fish farming generally feeds bait fish, with a feed conversion ratio of 3-4, and the weight-gain cost per kg is the same as for fry and fingerlings. In short, the economic benefits of snakehead farming are not unchanging. The benefit of snakehead fry and fingerling rearing is generally around 5,000 yuan/67 sq m, and the benefit of snakehead adult fish farming is generally around 1,500 yuan/67 sq m. (Note: 1 mu = 667 sq m)
Analysis of the Prospects and Market Price Trends of Snakehead Farming
Because snakehead is nutritious and has high medicinal value, in the farming of special aquatic product varieties, it is increasingly welcomed by farmers. This not only enriches the varieties of aquaculture, expands the utilization of aquaculture water surface and aquatic resources, but is also a path to wealth for both collectives and individuals to increase economic returns.
China was once a country abundant in snakehead. In recent decades, due to certain reasons, the natural resources of snakehead have been greatly reduced, and snakehead has become a rarity among aquatic products. The snakehead that people can see in markets is partly from wild snakehead fry and fingerlings collected by fishermen and mixed-cultured in home fish ponds, and partly wild fish caught from various water bodies. To meet the needs of domestic and international trade markets, many regions have carried out scientific research and farming practice in artificial snakehead farming, accumulating much successful experience, especially the breakthroughs in fry and fingerling breeding technology and artificial compound special feed, which have laid the foundation for the snakehead farming industry to move toward commercialized and large-scale production. A number of snakehead farmers have appeared across the country one after another, and many large-scale farmers have already obtained relatively high economic returns. It can be anticipated that snakehead will become one of the most promising aquaculture targets.
As people's understanding of snakehead grows and they learn of its various values, the market share of snakehead is also increasing year by year, and many farmers have also received relatively high returns. However, in the farming process, certain techniques are still needed to minimize costs and maximize profits.