How Much Do Snakehead Fry Cost? A Detailed Guide to Snakehead Farming Methods

Snakehead is also known as black fish, snakehead fish, cai fish and so on. There are many species, and it has high edible value and medicinal value, so it is widely farmed by people. So, how much do snakehead fry cost? How do you farm snakehead? Let's take a look together!

1. How much do snakehead fry cost?

The price of snakehead fry varies depending on the species, size and quality. Generally, it is about 0.5-1 yuan per fish, and some cheaper ones are about 0.3 mao per fish. The age at which snakehead reaches sexual maturity differs slightly from region to region. It can reproduce naturally in ponds, ditches, reservoirs and other waters. Snakehead generally spawns in shallow water areas with lush aquatic plants. The number of eggs produced is related to the size of the parent fish, usually about 20,000-30,000 eggs per kilogram of body weight. A 0.5 kg snakehead usually produces 8,000-10,000 eggs, and in individual cases up to 10,000-12,000 eggs.

2. How do you farm snakehead?

1. Pond selection

Snakehead ponds require good ventilation and sunlight, and an adequate water source. The pond area can be determined according to the farming scale. The water depth should be 1 m. Plant some water hyacinth or aquatic plants around the pond for shade, and use netting to enclose lower areas, which can prevent snakehead from escaping.

2. Pond clearing and disinfection

After the snakehead pond is selected and built, do not rush to put the fry in. First drain the pond water, use 140-150 kg of quicklime per mu, sprinkle it evenly over the whole pond, and turn over the mud to disinfect it thoroughly. One week before stocking, fill the pond to a depth of 1 m and apply appropriate base fertilizer to enrich the water quality.

3. Fingerling stocking

There are only two sources of snakehead fingerlings: one is wild and the other is artificially bred. Regardless of the source, they must be selected before being put into the pond. Bathe fingerlings of basically the same size in 3-5% salt water for 10 minutes, then put them into the same pond after disinfection. Fry of different sizes must be raised separately.

4. Stocking density

The stocking density of snakehead depends on the water source, water filling and drainage conditions, and fry size. Generally speaking, the larger the fry, the lower the density. Stock 6,000-10,000 fry of 3-5 cm per mu, 4,000-6,000 fry of 10-15 cm per mu, and about 2,000 fry of around 20 cm per mu.

5. Feed selection

Snakehead feed must be selected carefully and not taken lightly. The choice of feed directly affects how well snakehead grows. Powdered feed produced by reputable companies should be selected, with a crude protein content of 45% and crude fiber of 3%. The raw materials are fish meal, bone meal, soybean meal, flour, vitamin and mineral premix, etc., supplemented by fresh live bait such as mussel meat and small fish.

6. Bait feeding

After snakehead fingerlings are put into the pond, they must be domesticated. After the snakehead forms a fixed feeding habit, feed them once at 9 a.m. and once at 4 p.m. each day. The daily feeding amount is 5-10% of the fish body weight, and should be adjusted flexibly according to weather, water temperature, growth, feeding and other conditions.

7. Daily management

Under intensive artificial farming, with proper prevention and control measures, snakehead rarely becomes ill. Therefore, during the snakehead farming process, frequently check the water quality and fish condition, remove abnormal fish for examination and timely prevention and treatment. At the same time, pay more attention to feed and pond cleaning.

8. Timely harvesting

Snakehead is a ferocious carnivorous fish, and when bait is insufficient, it will cannibalize each other. Therefore, about once every month, catch the large ones and keep the small ones. If the size difference is large and the number is large, they can be divided into other ponds or cages with the same size specification.

The above is the Tuliu.com editor's summary for you on how much snakehead fry cost and how to farm snakehead. We hope it is helpful to you.