What conditions and techniques are needed for farming loach in a farmyard?

Loach has high nutritional value and very strong survival ability, and can survive in most environments. Therefore, many farmers choose to raise loach in their own courtyards, around the front and back of the house, in small pits and ponds, and so on. So what conditions are needed for farming loach in a farmyard? How should they be farmed?

1. Pond construction

A pond should be built in a place facing the sun, with a reliable water source, a clean environment, convenient management, good soil quality, and no seepage. If conditions permit, bricks and stones can also be laid with 1:2 cement mortar. The area can be adapted to local conditions. It is generally 100-200 sq m, 1 m deep, with the water depth kept at 40-50 cm. Spread 20-30 cm of fertile mud on the bottom of the pond so that the loach can burrow and rest. For convenient drainage and irrigation, the pond needs water inlet and outlet openings, and loach-blocking equipment (such as wire mesh, etc.) should be installed.

2. Pond cleaning and disinfection

Generally, 50 kg of quicklime per mu is used for disinfection, then new water is added, and some manure is appropriately applied to fertilize the water quality. Be sure to wait until the medicinal effect disappears after about 7 days before stocking.

3. Stocking loach fry

Either artificially bred or wild ones can be used, but they are required to be disease-free and uninjured, robust and lively, and uniform in size. Before stocking, it is best to soak and wash them in 3% salt water for 10 minutes. After the beginning of spring, it is advisable to stock them on sunny days.

4. Reasonable feeding

Since loach is an omnivorous fish, during farming, in addition to applying fertilizer to cultivate natural food, some animal-based feed can be appropriately given, such as river snails, earthworms, silkworm pupa powder, animal offal, etc.; some plant-based feed can also be given, such as rice bran, soybean cake, cooked rice, vegetable leaves, etc. The feeding amount: in August it is 1% of the total body mass of the loach, in April-June it is 4%, in July-August it is 10%, and in September-October it is 4%. Generally by late autumn and early winter, the loach enters hibernation, and some base fertilizer can be applied to the pond to keep it warm for overwintering. Feeding should be done at feeding platforms to avoid waste. At the same time, feeding should be appropriate, and it is best to finish eating within 2-8 hours; otherwise, they may die from overeating.

5. Frequently change the water

Observe water quality changes frequently. Generally, a yellow-green water color is suitable, and the pond water should be prevented from becoming too fertile. If loach are found sometimes darting out of the water surface, this indicates a lack of oxygen in the water, and new water should be added. Especially in thunderstorms and stuffy, hot weather, new water should be added more frequently to increase oxygen. If conditions permit, an aerator can be used to increase oxygen to prevent death from pond turnover.

6. Prevent and treat diseases

Common loach diseases include water mold and fin rot. If these diseases occur, they can be treated by soaking in an antibiotic solution containing 10-15 micrograms per milliliter for 10 minutes.

7. Pay attention to preventing biological enemies

Light traps can be used to kill water centipedes and clam worms. In rainy seasons, attention should be paid to flood control to prevent escape.

Farmyard loach farming generally involves stocking for 120-150 days, after which they can grow to 8-15 cm and gain 4-9 times their weight, reaching the standard for sale. The farming benefits are still quite good.