How to Raise Small Catfish? A Detailed Guide to Feeding Methods and Precautions

Catfish is a kind of freshwater fish that lives in the middle and lower layers of rivers, lakes, reservoirs and ponds, and is distributed all over the world. Below we introduce how to raise small catfish.

How to raise small catfish?

1. Water quality

Generally speaking, it does not have high requirements for water quality; catfish have very low requirements for the water quality they live in, tolerate low oxygen, are easy to breed, and grow fast. But it is never wrong to give it as good a rearing environment as possible. Start fertilizing the water one week before stocking the fry, after the pond has been disinfected. Some water hyacinth can be planted on the water surface to provide shade, prevent escape and regulate water quality. The pond water must be changed frequently; generally 1/3 of the pond water must be changed every 10-15 days. Changes in the pond water quality should be observed frequently; generally a yellow-green color is suitable.

2. Aeration

If the fry are seen jumping out of the water surface, it means the pond water is too fertile and lacks oxygen in the water; new water should be added in time and the old water released. Especially in stuffy or thunderstorm weather, pay attention to frequently adding new water and aerating in time; where conditions allow, an aerator can also be installed to increase oxygen and prevent fish deaths.

3. Stocking

The fry to be stocked should be uninjured, disease-free, healthy and lively; the size of the fingerlings should be above 3 cm, and the sizes should be as uniform as possible to avoid them killing each other.

4. Heat preservation

Catfish is an excellent variety of freshwater fish, but its drawback is poor cold tolerance; when the water temperature drops below 7°C it easily freezes to death, so pay attention to heat preservation in winter.

5. Changing water

Do not put it in the sun; it fears light. Changing the water every two or three days or every three to five days is fine. When changing the water, if it is tap water, first let the water sit for a morning.

6. Feeding

Catfish have quite a large appetite, especially when the weather is hot. Catfish are omnivorous fish; ordinarily they can be fed with steamed buns, or you can get a bit of meat, and snails or earthworms are also fine. Do not feed small catfish pieces that are too large. Catfish fry easily overeat themselves to death, so by no means feed fish that are too large; they very easily swallow them alive and choke themselves to death. Feed other small fish, small shrimp, small insects and the like; when hungry they can also eat minced fish meat.

In addition, catfish generally begin to be active in spring, and stop eating in winter, so before the onset of winter they must be fed enough food to let them pass the winter safely.