How Do Loaches Reproduce? A Detailed Explanation of Loach Reproduction

The loach is known as the “ginseng of the water”, lives in lakes and ponds, and is a fish with very high nutritional value. It is different from other fish; whether in appearance, body shape, or living habits, it is different, and is a special kind of loach. So, how do loaches reproduce?

1. How Loaches Reproduce

The breeding period of loaches varies by region. It is usually from April to August, but May to June is the peak spawning period. During spawning, several male loaches chase and entangle one female loach, constantly sucking and kissing the female's head and chest with their mouths. Soon, one male loach wraps its body around the abdomen near the female's anus, stimulating the female to spawn while releasing sperm, completing external fertilization. Spawning will soon occur, and fry can hatch in 2 to 3 days.

2. Selection and Cultivation of Parent Loaches

(1) Sources of parent loaches. They can be caught from rice fields, ponds, ditches, rivers and other waters; they can also be selected from overwintering ponds; or purchased from markets or loach farms.

(2) Selection of parent loaches. Parent loaches must be individuals with a proper body shape, normal body color, strong physique, no disease or injury, and well-developed gonads. Specifically, they should be relatively large: female loaches should be more than 15cm in body length and more than 20g in weight, with a swollen abdomen that is full of elasticity; male loaches should be more than 10cm in body length and more than 15g in weight, and those that are lively in movement are best. The time to select parent loaches is March to April in the Jiangnan region.

The physique of collected parent loaches is not necessarily ideal. Therefore, it is best to carry out a period of intensive cultivation so that their physique becomes stronger and their gonads develop better. After cultivation, the sex cells of the parent loaches can mature quickly, thereby correspondingly increasing the fertilization rate, hatching rate, and even the survival rate of fry.

The cultivation pond for parent loaches should preferably have an area of 60-100 sq m and a depth of 1m. 7-10 days before use, 20cm of fertile soil should be spread on the bottom of the pond. Use 150 to 200g of quicklime per square meter to splash the whole pond for disinfection, and fill with water to 40-50cm. The water should be filtered through 40-mesh silk gauze to prevent harmful organisms from entering the pond. Set up fish-blocking screens with wire mesh at the water inlet and outlet to prevent loaches from escaping.

In early May, when the water temperature stabilizes at around 18°C, the selected parent loaches can be transferred into the cultivation pond for intensive cultivation, with a stocking density of 8-10 fish per sq m. During the cultivation period, feed animal-based feed such as minced animal meat, animal viscera, or fish meal as much as possible. The daily feeding amount can account for 3% to 5% of the total body weight of the parent loaches, supplemented with a small amount of plant-based feed such as rice bran, wheat bran, and fresh tender aquatic plants. Since loaches forage at night, the feeding time should preferably be in the evening. Replace with new water once every 2-3 days, each time changing about 1/4 to 1/3 of the pond water.