Is the snakehead a saltwater fish or a freshwater fish? The answer, explained clearly in one go

The snakehead is also known as the black fish, tuanyu, wubang, sheng yu, snakehead fish, xiaoyu, motouyu and so on, and is a fish with a very high protein content. So is it a saltwater fish or a freshwater fish?

1. Is the snakehead a saltwater fish or a freshwater fish?

The snakehead is a freshwater fish, and moreover a valuable freshwater fish with relatively high economic value; its flesh is delicious and sells well both at home and abroad, commanding a high price, and it is one of China's important export aquatic products.

2. How do you farm snakeheads?

1. Preparation

The breeding pond should be about 2 m deep, with the pond embankment 50 cm above the water surface, and bamboo fences or netting should be used around the pond as an escape-proof wall. The water source must be sufficient and the water quality fresh; the water source must be sufficient and the water quality fresh. Half a month before stocking the fry, thoroughly clear and disinfect the pond with quicklime. After an interval of 3 days, fill with new water to a depth of 1.0 m, and once the toxicity has dissipated, test the water and release the fry.

2. Density

The farming density of snakeheads is related to the size of the fry; generally, in a 660 sq m pond you can stock 6,000 to 10,000 fry 3-5 cm long, or about 5,000 fry 10-15 cm long, or roughly 2,000 fry 20 cm long.

3. Feeding

Snakehead feed falls into two types: first, fresh animal feed consisting mainly of small wild trash fish; second, artificial compound feed: floating pellet feed, hard pellet feed and powdered compound feed.

4. Management

Pay attention to observing the snakehead's feeding, activity, signs of disease and environmental changes; in spring, change 4/5 of the pond water each week; in the hot season, change a small amount every 3 days and a large amount every 7 days; fit escape-proof nets at the water inlet and outlet, and it is best for the pond embankment to be more than 50 cm above the water surface. The discharged wastewater should undergo the necessary wastewater treatment.

As a valuable economic freshwater fish, the snakehead is a famous soup ingredient in the Guangdong region, and friends who are interested might give it a try when travelling there.