Thread: Fish-farming questions and ideas.

OK, we are short of water for the last 4 or 5 years since the weather has changed, what do I do if I don't have enough water from rain to keep my pond full for my fishes no more??

Do you have ground-water source availible ?? If so that can be used, provided that then water in your pond dont drain out to fast. If it does then you are limited only to raise fish during the raining season or you can put a liner in your pond to hold the water, you then need a lower stocking density of-cause. There's ways around water-shortage, but it costs money.

^^

I'll try to be concise.

If the pond has stagnant water that is not easy to refresh, and is only 1.5 metres deep, what is the most productive fish to farm?

Given the above , is there an easy and cheap way of oxygenating the water if necessary?

Originally Posted by CharleyFarley

If the pond has stagnant water that is not easy to refresh, and is only 1.5 metres deep, what is the most productive fish to farm?

My choice would be cat-fish (plar-duc) they are very resistant to muddy low oxygen water, after they reach 40-50 grams, before that stage they need better quality water.

Originally Posted by CharleyFarley

Given the above , is there an easy and cheap way of oxygenating the water if necessary?

You can use a small pump to make a fountain, to get some movement and oxygen into the water.

We're getting a modest house built near Ubon, and are planning to put a fish pond in. Mainly just to supply friends & family, and for me to do a spot of fishing when I'm up there. Not much else to do, except drink.

Originally Posted by Dalton

My choice would be cat-fish

What would be your second choice ?
I don't want to do catfish

Originally Posted by Thetyim

What would be your second choice ? I don't want to do catfish

Second choice would be Plar Nin, but that will involve some water-change, even if you use a pump to create oxygen, and you would need to keep a low stocking density (not more than 1 to 2 fish/m2)

Thanks, I am way overstocked then.

The problem is that Pla Nin breed so fast
Every couple of months an extra 300 fingerlings appear

Originally Posted by Thetyim

The problem is that Pla Nin breed so fast Every couple of months an extra 300 fingerlings appear

You need to use sex-reversed Plar Nin, if not then they will only breed and not grow...

Well as I am way overstocked I could remove all the Pla Nin which would leave me about the correct number of TapTim.
Do TapTim need to be sex reversed as well?

Up here in Chiang Rai, the cuurent liveweight price per kilo for catfish is 60 Baht

Originally Posted by Dalton

Do you have ground-water source availible ?? If so that can be used, provided that then water in your pond dont drain out to fast. If it does then you are limited only to raise fish during the raining season or you can put a liner in your pond to hold the water, you then need a lower stocking density of-cause. There's ways around water-shortage, but it costs money.

No ground water available, Fil drilled down to damn near 600 meters and no water, I drilled down in another place 160 meters and no water.
The pond was dug by the govt on family land to supply neighbors with irrigation water, but has since been abandoned and turned back to family, who still let folks get water for irrigation, and thats what happens to the water, but before the drought set in we still raised a few thousand fish a year, but now it just gets to damn low and drys up some years, plus Fil died.

Originally Posted by Thetyim

Well as I am way overstocked I could remove all the Pla Nin which would leave me about the correct number of TapTim. Do TapTim need to be sex reversed as well?

No need to clean out the whole pond for fish, and the get your new fry or finger-lings from a source who supply sex-reversed Plar Nin and Tap-Tim (I can help you in that matter) There is no point messing around with the ones you have, since they are mixed sex..

Originally Posted by blackgang

No ground water available, Fil drilled down to damn near 600 meters and no water, I drilled down in another place 160 meters and no water. The pond was dug by the govt on family land to supply neighbors with irrigation water, but has since been abandoned and turned back to family, who still let folks get water for irrigation, and thats what happens to the water, but before the drought set in we still raised a few thousand fish a year, but now it just gets to damn low and drys up some years, plus Fil died.

Tough enviroment for fish-farming.......Not any easy cheap solution to that problem, cant fight against mother-nature...

Originally Posted by CharleyFarley

Up here in Chiang Rai, the cuurent liveweight price per kilo for catfish is 60 Baht

What size is that ??

At what age/size is the sex reversal done?
I am pissed off that none of the "thai experts" that I spoke to told me about this.
How can I tell if they are all male or not ?
Does the price increase ?

Originally Posted by Thetyim

At what age/size is the sex reversal done?

From day 1 and will end when they are 23 to 25 days old.

Originally Posted by Thetyim

I am pissed off that none of the "thai experts" that I spoke to told me about this.

What to exspect....How much did you pay per fish ??

Originally Posted by Thetyim

How can I tell if they are all male or not ? Does the price increase ?

You cant at that age, you'll have to trust your source. The price for male fry plar Nin is around 32-34 satang and 42 for Tap-Tim.

^^I'll double check in town 2moro

is sex reversal pleasurable to eiter the fish or the reverser?

I had thought about doing this using 4 x 4 metre tanks split in half so that you can get to the fish easier. I though 4 of those in a row on a small downslope so that the water flows into each tank and using the first tank as a filter and pumping the dirty water back into the filyer tank.
I have access to the moo ban water from the government but I think the tanks will need topping up on a daily basis.
Do you think that would work?
I have done some drawings in excel but due to my low number of posts I am not allowed to add attachments. Sorry.

Originally Posted by obsidian

is sex reversal pleasurable to eiter the fish or the reverser?

I can hook you up, if you wanna try...

Originally Posted by crabfat

I had thought about doing this using 4 x 4 metre tanks split in half so that you can get to the fish easier. I though 4 of those in a row on a small downslope so that the water flows into each tank and using the first tank as a filter and pumping the dirty water back into the filyer tank. I have access to the moo ban water from the government but I think the tanks will need topping up on a daily basis. Do you think that would work? I have done some drawings in excel but due to my low number of posts I am not allowed to add attachments. Sorry.

You have the right idea, for small recirculation system, try to have a look on the thread called "my farm used for final project" there's some pics of the setup I have. You can email your drawings to me, I'll send you a PM wit my mail.

Cheers