Detailed Explanation of Key Points for Off-Season Loach Farming Techniques

Farmers in my town practice off-season loach farming in plastic greenhouse cement ponds, especially bringing them to market during the New Year's Day and Spring Festival periods when selling prices are high, with a price difference of 3-5 yuan, making the returns quite considerable. The farming techniques are introduced as follows.  

I. Pond construction conditions. Depending on each household's courtyard, a cement pond area of 100-150 sq m is suitable. The loach pond can be built above ground, underground, or semi-underground, and should have water inlet and outlet openings, with a pond depth of 1.2-1.5 m, a drainage outlet set 30 cm from the pond bottom, and anti-escape facilities installed, with a water depth of 0.8-1 m. Before stocking loach, first add 20 cm of fertile mud, and 10-15 days before stocking, clean and disinfect the loach pond. After 7 days, add water to 20-30 cm, put 0.3-0.5 kg of livestock and poultry manure per sq m, then add water to 40-50 cm. After several days, when the water color is yellow-green and the transparency is 15-25 cm, stock the loach.  

II. Greenhouse installation. Build it according to the method for setting up vegetable greenhouses, with a single-layer or double-layer structure; bamboo poles can be used as material, or steel bar structure if conditions permit. In addition, an appropriate amount of straw mats or curtains should be prepared to cover the plastic greenhouse for insulation in winter.  

III. Stocking loach. Before stocking, loach are usually dipped in 3%-5% salt water for 3-5 minutes to prevent saprolegniasis and eliminate external parasites. The density is about 25 kg per cubic meter of water; as the stocking amount increases and the fish gain weight, the pond water can be deepened to 0.8-1 m (if conditions permit, maintaining slight water flow in the pond gives better results). When the loach enter the pond, also prevent excessive temperature differences, so as to avoid the loach catching a cold and dying.  

IV. Feeding management. Loach are omnivorous; natural bait includes small crustaceans, aquatic insects, snails, earthworms, animal viscera, algae, rice bran, bean dregs, etc. When feeding, pay attention to a reasonable combination of animal and plant bait, and feeding should follow the four fixed principles. When the water temperature is above 30°C or below 10°C, feeding may be omitted. During rearing, attention should be paid to fertilization, splashing manure slurry into the loach pond once every 4-5 days, 50-100 g per sq m, maintaining water transparency at 15-25 cm, and changing the water in time; the loach pond should have its water changed 2 times per week, 30 cm each time (if there is slight water flow in the pond, frequent water changes are not necessary, but water quality deterioration must be prevented). The water-drying pond should often be filled with tap water to ensure an adequate water source.  

V. Greenhouse management. Follow agricultural technical requirements and manage according to the key points for vegetable greenhouse management.