Detailed Guide to Paddlefish Farming Technology: Master Scientific Breeding Methods
Scientific name of the duckbill fish: American paddlefish (also known as duckbill sturgeon). English name: Polyodonspathala. The paddlefish, scientific name "American paddlefish," is native to the Mississippi River basin in the United States. It is a large freshwater economic fish belonging to the order Acipenseriformes, family Polyodontidae. It is a rare sturgeon species that has lived on Earth since 300 million years ago (that is, the dinosaur era) and has survived to this day, and is one of only two species in the family Polyodontidae worldwide. It belongs, together with the Chinese sturgeon and the Chinese paddlefish of the Yangtze River waters, to the order Acipenseriformes, family Polyodontidae.
The paddlefish is a cartilaginous fish with a bare body surface, glossy and scaleless, and a snout shaped like a spoon, resembling a duck's bill, hence the name duckbill sturgeon. Its snout is particularly long, flat, and paddle-like; the body surface is smooth and scaleless, with the back being dark blue-gray, often with some spots interspersed among it; the sides have dotted ochre coloration, and the belly is white; the mouth is large and the eyes are small, with the forehead higher than the mouth; the gill rakers are dense and slender, the opercular bone is large and extends backward to the pelvic fins, the caudal fin is forked, and the caudal peduncle is covered with segmented bony scales. The paddlefish is relatively large in size, with a lifespan of over 30 years. The paddlefish matures late in terms of gonadal development, generally requiring more than 8 years of age to reach sexual maturity. The feeding habits of the paddlefish are similar to those of the bighead carp in our country; it feeds on zooplankton and is a filter-feeding fish. Therefore, whether in the fry rearing stage of the paddlefish or in the adult fish farming period, the pond water must contain large amounts of zooplankton such as copepods and cladocerans to ensure sufficient natural food for its feeding.
Living Habits
The paddlefish has strong adaptability, grows rapidly, is gentle in temperament, and has a short food chain. It is the only fish among all sturgeons that feeds on zooplankton. Its food sources are broad, and it is easy to raise and easy to catch, making it suitable for farming in water bodies such as reservoirs, lakes, and ponds.
The feeding habits of the paddlefish are similar to those of the bighead carp (that is, the bighead carp among the four major Chinese carps; it is called differently in different places, and some also call it bighead fish). It is a filter-feeding fish that mainly feeds on zooplankton and cladocerans, and is especially fond of eating water fleas, while occasionally feeding on small aquatic insects such as chironomid larvae. Paddlefish with a body length under 12 cm can nibble zooplankton one by one, and also nibble small fish and small shrimp; when the body length exceeds 12 cm, its feeding organs are fully developed and it shifts to filter feeding, able to capture fast-swimming copepods. As the paddlefish individual grows, it also feeds on pelleted feed. In the juvenile stage, because it has a long snout and a peculiar body shape, when feeding on commercial compound pelleted feed, its belly faces upward and its movements are unique and endearing, giving it high ornamental value, and it can be raised as a high-grade ornamental fish.
Value of Adult Fish
The adult fish has much meat and few bones, fine texture and fresh taste, and belongs to high-protein, low-fat meat. The fish eggs processed into caviar are called"black gold nuggets", therefore, it has very high food value. In addition, the medicinal value of the paddlefish is extremely high. Modern medical research shows that the anti-cancer factors contained in its cartilage and spinal cartilage (biologically active ingredient - chondroitin sulfate) have a certain anti-cancer and immune-enhancing effect. Eating paddlefish has effects such as prolonging life, nourishing yin and strengthening yang, strengthening the body, benefiting the brain and improving eyesight, and clearing heat and detoxifying, and can also treat lumbago, stomach diseases, and hair loss, etc.
Rearing Methods
1. Pond Polyculture
For each mu of water surface, stock 80 to 100 paddlefish fingerlings of 8 cm to 10 cm in size. Bighead carp must not be stocked in the polyculture pond, because the paddlefish and the bighead carp have the same feeding habits. Without additionally increasing the amount of feed used, the paddlefish can reach an individual size of over 1 kg in the same year, with considerable economic benefits.
2. Pond Main Culture
For each mu of water surface, stock 500 to 800 paddlefish fingerlings of 8 cm to 10 cm in size. Pair with 80 silver carp fingerlings and 50 crucian carp fingerlings, and do not pair with other fish. Mainly feed with feed. The size of the paddlefish in the same year is over 1 kg.
3. Reservoir Cage Culture
For a cage of 20 sq m, stock 500 to 800 sturgeon fingerlings of 10 cm to 15 cm at one time. Mainly feed with feed. The size of the fish in the same year is over 1 kg.