How to raise yellow eels? Master these four key secrets

    Raising yellow eels in net cages is a relatively economical and highly profitable farming method. Ren Chao, a science and technology commissioner in Shizhong District, Neijiang City, Sichuan, introduced four tricks for cage farming of yellow eels——

    Selecting young eels: observe the body surface. If the body surface of a yellow eel has red areas with bloody putrid masses, it is putrid skin disease; if the tail is whitish and covered with fluffy, cotton-like fuzz, it is saprolegniasis; if the head is large and the body is thin, or even stiffly curled and trembling, it is an internal parasite disease; if the anus is red, swollen, inflamed and protruding, it is enteritis. In addition, young eels that are weak, have little mucus, or show floating-head behavior are all poor-quality eel stock and should be culled.

    Pond disinfection
 
    Before stocking the fry, the pond must be thoroughly disinfected. For cement ponds, soak them in quicklime water for 3~7 days, then add clean water and soak for 15~30 days, so that algae grows on the bottom of the pond. After disinfection, put loaches into the pond to test the disinfection. If the loaches show floating-head behavior within 1~4 hours, swim frantically in the water, or die, it means the disinfection of the cement pond has not yet reached the desired effect. The disinfection soaking time should be extended.

    Installing nets and planting grass

⟧    Raising eels in net cages cannot be separated from aquatic plants. Aquatic plants provide shade and something for the yellow eels to cling to. The species generally chosen are water hyacinth and Lippia nodiflora. The feces of the yellow eels happen to be fertilizer for the aquatic plants. The aquatic plants generally occupy about 70%~80% of the net cage or cement pond.

    Stocking fry and training them to eat

    The trick to stocking fry lies in watching the weather. Pay attention to weather changes 5~7 days in advance to ensure that the fry are stocked on a sunny day; the water temperature should remain stable at around 25°C; the temperature difference between day and night should not exceed 5°C; the maximum water temperature should not exceed 35°C; and avoid the period when yellow eels are carrying eggs and spawning. If these conditions are met, the fry can be stocked.

    Stock large and small fry in separate grades

    Food training is crucial to the later growth and survival of yellow eels. Within 3~5 days of stocking, promptly deal with young eels that do not start eating or eat only a small amount. For food training, the eel fry may be given no bait for two to three days before being put into the pond, and then bait may be given for feeding later. The bait can be made from maggots, earthworms, snail meat and other ingredients combined with feed.

    During the food training process, it is best to achieve three points: first, listen, to hear whether the yellow eels eat evenly; second, look, to see whether many or few yellow eels start eating; third, observe, to observe the amount of leftover bait the next morning, whether the yellow eels show any abnormal conditions, and whether the yellow eels leave the aquatic plants to come out and move around during the day.