Key Technical Points for Artificial Incubation and Farming Management of Paddlefish
Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) is a large freshwater economic fish native to North America. Due to its unique body shape and flat, elongated snout, it can also serve as a valuable ornamental fish. When polycultured in ponds, it can both regulate the farming environment and improve water quality, while also yielding relatively good economic returns.
Key technical points for artificial incubation of paddlefish: 1) Egg stocking density. Each cylindrical incubation bottle with a diameter of 15cm and a height of 50cm can hold 50,000-100,000 fertilized eggs. 2) Control the water flow rate so that all fish eggs can slowly suspend and tumble in the incubator; initially control it at around 8L/min. 3) Control the water temperature between 18-20°C. 4) Maintain the dissolved oxygen content in the water above 6mg/L. 5) Adjust the pH to slightly alkaline. 6) Disease prevention and control. By adjusting the appropriate water flow rate, remove dead eggs and eggs infected with water mold, and control the spread of water mold.
There are two methods of pond polyculture: one is to mainly farm paddlefish with other fish species as a combination; the other is to mainly farm other fish species with paddlefish as a combination. Main technical points: 1) Pond conditions. There must be sufficient water source and dissolved oxygen; before stocking fingerlings, thoroughly clean and disinfect the pond. 2) Fingerling stocking. Select fingerlings with strong physique and lively swimming. The stocking size generally requires individuals about 15-20cm in length. Stocking density is divided into two types: when paddlefish is the main farmed fish, the stocking density is 250 fish/mu; if paddlefish is a supplementary farmed fish, the stocking density is 50-100 fish/667 sq m. 3) Feeding management, water quality regulation: pay attention to changes in weather and water quality, promptly add fresh water to the pond or turn on the aerator to increase dissolved oxygen in the water; fertilizing water and feeding: in ponds mainly farming paddlefish, apply fertilizer before fingerlings are stocked to cultivate zooplankton, then apply additional fertilizer as appropriate afterward to maintain the zooplankton population in the pond; feed feeding should achieve the "three fixeds", namely fixed quality, fixed location, and fixed time.