Detailed Explanation of Practical Technical Points for Marble Goby Farming

The marble goby, scientifically named Oxyeleotris marmorata or Bostrychus sinensis, is a warm-water economic fish mainly produced in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and other countries, commonly known as marble goby in Guangdong and South China. The maximum body length is 60cm, weighing up to 5--6kg. A tail weight of 0.3kg reaches commercial specification. The Thai marble goby belongs to the suborder Gobioidei, a carnivorous, bottom-dwelling, cave-dwelling fish that fears light and often hides in rock crevices and caves. The color of its body surface changes with the surrounding water quality and environment. Under natural conditions, its main food is small fish and small shrimp. The farming water temperature range is 15--33°C, suitable water temperature 25--30°C, suitable pH value between 7.0-8.5, suitable for farming in ponds, reservoirs, mountain pond cages and greenhouses. The marble goby has delicate meat, few bones, and a delicious taste, surpassing marine grouper. The price will not be lower than 100-120 yuan/kg, and the farming cost is relatively very low. 1 Selection of fry specifications The scales on the body surface of the marble goby are quite special, being comb-toothed, and reverse friction easily damages the skin and induces infection. If the fry specifications are too large, the scales are relatively mature, and during transportation they are very prone to scratching each other and becoming infected, causing death, or even total loss. Therefore, the key to successful marble goby farming lies first in selecting small-specification fry, generally not exceeding 2cm. After the fry are transported back, immediately use basins, buckets, etc. to temporarily hold them for 2 days. The specific method is: (1) soak and wash with 20mg/L potassium permanganate for 1h; (2) then soak and temporarily hold with 10% povidone-iodine 20mg/L plus 0.6% salt solution for 40--48; (3) if it is a high-temperature season, at the same time use 20mg/L potassium permanganate to splash and disinfect the entire farming pond, and release the fry after 2 days; (4) the stocking density per mu is between 2000--3000 fry. In addition, fish nests must be set up. Cut non-toxic PVC pipes with a diameter of 12cm into about 60cm lengths, fix them into a "#" shape, and place them at the bottom of the pond. 30--40 "#" shapes per mu. 2 Feeding of bait The characteristic of the marble goby is that its early growth rate is relatively slow. Growing from 2cm to 10cm takes 60--70 days. During this period, live bait must be fed. Relatively good live bait includes fry of wild miscellaneous fish, freshwater shrimp seedlings (desalinated Litopenaeus vannamei seedlings are also acceptable). Because small fish and shrimp grow faster than marble goby fry, feeding fish and shrimp fry of suitable specifications in batches is extremely beneficial to successful farming. Our method is: (1) local