Detailed Guide to Loach Farming Technology: Master Scientific Breeding Methods

Loach farming ponds require an adequate water source, fresh and pollution-free water quality, and convenient water inlet and drainage. Twenty days before stocking the loach fry, the pond should be cleaned, renovated and disinfected. You can directly feed aquatic insects, yellow mealworms, earthworms, minced wild fish and poultry and livestock offal, etc. In addition, pay attention to frequently checking the anti-escape facilities, repair any holes promptly, and treat fish diseases as soon as they are discovered.

1. Stocking Preparation

Twenty days before stocking the loach fry, the pond should be cleaned, renovated and disinfected, and wire mesh should be installed at the water inlet and outlet to prevent escape. At the drainage outlet, dig a fish pit with an area of about 1/3 to 1/5 of the total pond area and a depth of 30 to 50 cm, and lay a layer of clay rich in humus on the pond bottom.

2. Feed Selection

In artificial farming, you can directly feed aquatic insects, yellow mealworms, earthworms, maggots, river mussels, snails, fish meal, minced wild fish and poultry and livestock offal, etc., or you can feed artificial compound feed. Feed once in the morning and once in the evening. In the early stage of farming, feed is usually given at 3 to 4% of the fish body weight, in the middle stage at 4 to 6% of the fish body weight, and in the later stage the amount of compound feed can be appropriately reduced.

3. Water Quality Regulation

The water quality should be “fertile, lively, tender and refreshing”, with a yellow-green water color being best, and a transparency of 20 to 30 cm being appropriate. When the transparency is greater than 30 cm, apply 20 kg of organic fertilizer per mu each time to increase the natural food organisms for loach in the pond, such as copepods and cladocerans. When the transparency is less than 20 cm, topdressing should be stopped or reduced. In hot seasons, frequently inject new water, replace part of the old water, and regularly turn on the aerator.

4. Daily Management

Insist on patrolling the pond every morning, noon and evening to keep track of the water level, water quality and the loach's feeding situation at all times, and deal with any problems promptly. Usually diligently remove weeds around the pond. In hot seasons, use chlorine dioxide once every 15 days, and splash quicklime over the whole pond once every 7 days. In the middle and late stages of farming, apply microbial preparations 1 to 2 times a month. Frequently check the anti-escape facilities, repair any holes promptly, treat fish diseases as soon as they are discovered, and keep a good farming diary.