Tilapia is a highly adaptable fish with a broad diet, high tolerance for low oxygen levels, fast growth rate, low disease incidence, and strong reproductive capacity. It is widely farmed in China and serves as a primary species for many local fishermen and farms. As a tropical fish, tilapia requires specific conditions for aquaculture, particularly during four critical stages: broodstock breeding, fry production, adult fish cultivation, and wintering conservation.
Currently, several methods are used to raise tilapia, including pond culture, water farming, cage culture, rice paddy integration, and marine aquaculture. This article focuses on freshwater aquaculture practices, especially pond culture.
**I. Pond Culture**
1. **Pond Conditions**: The site should be sheltered from wind, sunny, with clean, unpolluted water. Ponds should be 3–5 mu in size, with a depth of 1.5–2 meters and a sediment layer of 20–30 cm. Each pond must have an impeller aerator (1.5 kW) to ensure proper oxygenation.
2. **Pond Cleaning and Fertilization**: Before stocking, the pond should be disinfected using lime (75–100 kg per acre). After 7 days, fill the pond to a depth of 1 meter and add 300–400 kg of manure per acre. A small amount of annatto or Hongping can also be added to improve water quality.
3. **Stocking Fish**: Once the water temperature stabilizes above 15°C in spring, fingerlings are released. Typically, 1,500–3,000 tilapia per acre are stocked, along with 40–70 polycultured species like snails and shrimp to help maintain water quality. When mixed with other fish, 200–500 fish per acre are usually stocked.
4. **Feeding**: Tilapia can eat a variety of feeds, such as wheat, corn, and rice cakes. Feed should contain 32–35% protein, with daily feeding amounts at 3–5% of total fish weight. Once fish reach 200 grams, reduce feed to 2% of body weight with 27–29% protein. For fish over 300 grams, increase protein content to 35%, with 1–2% of body weight fed twice daily (8–9 AM and 3–4 PM).
5. **Daily Management**: Regular monitoring is essential. Check water temperature, pH, and transparency regularly. Maintain water color as dark brown with a transparency of 25–30 cm. Apply fertilizer weekly (150–200 kg of manure per acre), adjusting based on water clarity. In hot seasons, change 20–30% of the water once or twice a week. Use aerators when dissolved oxygen drops, and apply biological agents to improve microbial balance and prevent diseases.
**II. Rice Field Aquaculture**
Rice field farming allows for dual harvests. Before stocking, lime (75–100 kg per acre) is applied to ditches and fields two weeks prior. Fermented manure (200 kg per mu) is used to cultivate natural food. Stocking usually occurs 5 days after rice transplanting, when seedlings turn green. Fish should be healthy, active, and free from injuries. Stocking density varies between 200–300 tilapia per mu, depending on field conditions. Fish should be disinfected with saltwater (3–5%) before release, preferably in the early morning or late afternoon. Feeding is minimal, relying mainly on natural food, though supplemental feed may be given to accelerate growth.
**III. Cage Culture**
Cage culture is suitable for tilapia, with cages typically holding 10–50g fish. Stocking density depends on dissolved oxygen levels—3–20 kg per cubic meter when oxygen exceeds 3 mg/L.
**IV. Flow-Through Culture**
This method is ideal for high-density farming, often called "factory" aquaculture. Ponds are small (30–50 m²), with continuous water flow to maintain oxygen levels above 3 mg/L. Fish are fed 5–6 times daily with high-protein feed (around 30% protein), with feeding rates at 2.5–3% of body weight.
Overall, successful tilapia farming requires careful attention to environmental conditions, feeding strategies, and disease prevention. By following these practices, farmers can achieve high yields and sustainable production.
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