By placing suitable fish species in an artificial reservoir, you will always have access to fish delicacies and meat. How to breed fish in a home pond correctly - read this article.

When planning to breed fish in a pond on a personal plot, you need to choose the right type of fish, focusing on financial capabilities, features of the reservoir and water characteristics. In addition, it is important to take into account the water temperature and the climatic conditions of the region. Today we will give the characteristics of the most common types of fish and talk about the features of their cultivation.

What fish is better to breed in a small pond

When choosing a type of fish, they are primarily guided by the climatic zone in which the household plot is located. For example, species adapted for breeding in the southern regions will not be suitable for northern latitudes and vice versa. In addition, the quality of water and the intensity of water supply must be taken into account.

Below are the main characteristics of common species intended for breeding. With the help of these tips, you will be able to determine which fish is best to breed in a small home pond.

Fish breeds

When choosing which fish is best to breed in a pond, you must definitely familiarize yourself with the most common breeds of aquatic pets, the features of their cultivation and the main characteristics.

To help you choose which breed is best for large and small pond breeding, we provide detailed descriptions of the most popular breeds.

It has many useful economic qualities and is bred in many farms. This is one of the most unpretentious freshwater species: it easily tolerates a change in food and the chemical composition of water.

Carp is thermophilic, so the optimal temperature for growth and reproduction is the range of 18-30 degrees. The period of onset of puberty also depends on the temperature regime. In a temperate and cold climate, puberty occurs at 4-5 years, and in southern latitudes - at the second or third. It is noteworthy that males become mature earlier than females. However, if the carp is provided with a consistently high temperature, puberty can also occur at the age of one (Figure 1).

Note: The fertility of females is very high, but it depends on the conditions of detention. As a rule, spawning takes place near the shore, and the optimum water temperature is 17-20 degrees.

The larvae hatch and begin to actively feed within 3-6 days after spawning. To feed the larvae, you need to use small plankton (daphnia, rotifers, cyclops), and with age they gradually switch to bloodworms or mollusks, but they also willingly eat food of plant origin.

Carp grows quite quickly, and at the age of three years its weight exceeds 1 kg, but in good conditions carp can reach a weight of 2 kg.

Figure 1. Carp: adults and fry

There are several types of carp that differ in the type of scales: scaly, mirror scattered, mirror linear and leathery (naked). The first two types are suitable for breeding in temperate climates, but regardless of the type, carp will grow well in a shallow, warm pond with little current.

• Golden carp

A small fish without antennae, with copper-red sides (Figure 2). It is best grown in stagnant ponds with a muddy bottom. Golden crucian carp is unpretentious to growing conditions, and normally tolerates increased acidity of water or reduced oxygen content. Sexual maturity occurs at two to four years, and spawning occurs in several stages with an interval of two weeks.

Figure 2. Golden and silver carp

Golden crucian feeds on small plankton and aquatic vegetation, and the weight of an adult can reach 3 kg, but more often it is caught after reaching a weight of 0.5 kg. The value of golden carp also lies in the fact that it can be grown in any reservoirs and crossed with other species (for example, with carp or silver carp). Hybrids have high vitality and undemanding to the conditions of nutrition and maintenance.

• Goldfish

Unlike goldfish with a round body, this species has angular shapes, and the body is covered with large silvery scales (Figure 2). Like the species described above, silver carp is undemanding to the conditions of detention, and can eat both animal and plant foods, but reaches the desired weight much faster.

Note: The silver carp has an unusual biological feature. In cold and temperate climates, the number of males and females in spawning is approximately the same, and in other areas only females are in the offspring, which breed by crossing with other species (carp, tench, golden carp).

Silver carp is excellent for growing in reservoirs with unfavorable water chemistry.

• White amur

This is a large breed that is fast growing. The homeland of grass carp is the rivers of the Far East and China, and in the European part of Russia it began to be grown only in the middle of the 20th century.

The body of grass carp can reach 1 meter, covered with large scales. Weight is 40-50 kg. It feeds mainly on plant foods, giving preference to young plants, but adults can also eat hard reeds or cattails. In addition, they can feed on terrestrial vegetation that has fallen into the reservoir (clover, cereals, alfalfa).

The rate of growth and puberty depends on the temperature of the water. In southern regions with consistently high temperatures, grass carp grows year-round, but if the temperature drops below 10 degrees, the individual stops feeding and growing.

Note: The ability of grass carp to eat a large amount of plant food allows it to be used as a cleaner for overgrown ponds.

Sexual maturity occurs at seven to eight years (for males) and eight to nine (for females). The term of its onset depends not only on temperature, but also on the food supply. Spawning in natural conditions takes place in the channels of large rivers with a fast current, and in artificial growing conditions - directly into the water column. The larvae hatch in about a day, but in artificial reservoirs this process can be controlled by changing the water temperature.

• black carp

According to the region of distribution and body shape, black carp is similar to white carp, but its body is covered with large black scales. Under favorable growing conditions, the weight of an adult can reach 55 kg. Unlike white carp, black carp feeds on mollusks, and larvae feed on zooplankton.

Figure 3. Types of grass carp: 1 - white, 2 - fry of white carp, 3 - black

• White and motley carp

A characteristic feature is a large head with low-set eyes. Silver carps grow quickly, and the weight of an adult can reach 50 kg.

Figure 4. Silver carp: 1 - white, 2 - motley, 3 - fry

White and motley silver carp differ in some external features (Figure 4). The Pied has a larger head and silvery scales with brown spots on the sides. In the bighead carp, the scales are also silvery in color, but do not have spots. In addition, they differ in the structure of the filtration apparatus: in the variegated gill rakers are long and frequent, while in the white they grow together, forming a network for straining algae and small plankton. These differences can be determined only at the age of 3-5 years, when the individual reaches a sufficiently large size.

The silver carp feeds on various types of algae, and does not perceive artificial feed. An exception is the bighead carp, which can also feed on artificial feed.

Note: The bighead carp also eats animal plankton, so it cannot be grown together with carp, so that there is no food competition in the reservoir.

Sexual maturity occurs earlier in silver carp (at three to seven years), and variegated becomes mature at four to eight years (depending on the region of cultivation). Modern breeders have developed a hybrid of these two species, which is characterized by rapid growth and can eat both plant and animal foods.

• buffalo

Naturally found in America. This is a large breed that looks like a carp and grows quickly. There are several types of buffalo that differ in size and weight of adults: large-mouthed (up to 45 kg), small-mouthed (15-18 kg) and black (up to 7 kg). In addition, they differ in the structure of the filtration apparatus and the type of food, but they mainly eat plankton, although compound feed can also be used for cultivation.

Figure 5. Appearance of the buffalo breed

• channel catfish

A large individual, the weight of which can reach 30 kg. Channel catfish were originally grown in the United States, but later they spread throughout the world. The catfish is heat-loving, and the optimum temperature for growth is 25-30 degrees, but the channel catfish successfully endures the winter even in water bodies covered with a layer of ice. However, it is demanding on the oxygen content in the water.

The channel catfish is omnivorous and can feed on plankton, small mollusks and small fish. Sexual maturity occurs at 5-8 years, and spawning occurs in summer, when the water temperature reaches 20-22 degrees, but for the larvae to hatch, the temperature must be higher (up to 30 degrees).

In temperate climates, channel catfish are grown primarily in cages placed in temperature-controlled ponds. Catfish grows quickly, and its meat is of high gastronomic value, but for this it is necessary to feed it with high-quality protein and fortified feed (slaughterhouse waste or minced fish mixed with compound feed).

• Trout perch

This is a predator living in the fresh waters of North America. The diet depends on the age of the individual. The fry feed on algae or zooplankton, while the adults eat mollusks, tadpoles, small fish and insects. With a lack of food, cannibalism can begin, therefore, when growing trout perch, it is necessary to ensure that individuals have enough food, and fry must be separated from adults. In Figure 6, you can determine what a trout perch looks like.

Figure 6. Species for breeding in the pond: 1 - channel catfish, 2 and 3 - trout perch

Sexual maturity occurs in the first or third year of life (depending on the temperature regime). Spawning begins when the water temperature reaches 18 degrees. To lay eggs, the male digs a small nest in dense soil, and after the female lays eggs, the male guards the nest for several weeks.

Trout perch grows rapidly, and if it is intensively fed and kept in the right conditions, in the second year of life, the mass of an individual can reach two kilograms. The taste of trout perch meat is similar to trout meat.

• Sturgeons

Sturgeon breeding is one of the most profitable in fish farming. The most common types of sturgeon are (Figure 7):

1. Bester is a hybrid of beluga and sterlet. It adapts perfectly to various conditions of detention and can be bred in both fresh and salt water. The bester reaches puberty early, and the individual quickly gains weight.
2. The Lena sturgeon looks like a sterlet, but it is much larger. Feeds on insects, molluscs and small fish. Sexual maturity occurs at 10-12 years old, and tolerates high water temperatures (more than 30 degrees), but the best temperature for breeding is considered to be within 15-25 degrees.
3. The paddlefish began to be bred in the USA, but now it is also common in Russia. This is the only representative of insects that feeds on plant foods and zooplankton. This is a large individual, which, under the right growing conditions, can reach a weight of 80 kg and a length of 2 meters. When kept in water bodies with a water temperature of 20-25 degrees, the paddlefish grows rapidly, and already in the second year of life, the weight reaches 4 kg.

Figure 7. Sturgeon species: 1 - bester, 2 - Lena sturgeon, 3 - paddlefish

The paddlefish tolerates winter well and can stay under the ice for several months. Paddlefish meat resembles beluga meat, and caviar is similar to sturgeon.

• Acne

There are 15 species of eel, but mainly European and Japanese eel are bred (Figure 8). The eel has a long body with short fins. The eel is an anadromous species and breeds in the ocean. For example, the European eel is sent to spawn in Bermuda and the Bahamas in the Atlantic Ocean, and the current takes the eggs to the European rivers, where it develops in the future.

Figure 8. Types of eel: 1 - European, 2 - Japanese

For growing eel, it is better to use long and narrow containers. Eels are predators, so small frogs, crustaceans, insects and fry are used to feed them.

• Tilapia

It grows wild in Africa and the Middle East. Tilapia breeds easily, grows quickly and is undemanding to feed. Meat has a high gastronomic value (Figure 9).

There are about 70 species of tilapia, but the genus Oreochromis is considered the most common. The development of eggs occurs in the oral cavity of an adult, which positively affects the replenishment of the population. Under favorable breeding conditions and keeping in warm water, tilapia spawns several times a year, but it does not have high fecundity.

Figure 9. Adult tilapia and its fry

Tilapia is undemanding to the conditions of detention: it can be bred in fresh and brackish waters, as well as in ponds and pools with a low oxygen content. However, for full growth, the water temperature should not be below 13 degrees. It feeds on plant foods, but some varieties also eat plankton.

Belongs to species that feel better in cool water. It is quite easy to breed, and the meat has a high taste. The color of the trout is silvery with black dots, and a bright rainbow stripe runs along the side (Figure 10).

Figure 10. Adults and fry of rainbow trout

The optimum temperature for breeding is considered to be 16-18 degrees, but at the same time there should be enough oxygen in the water. If its content is 3 mg / l and below, the trout dies.

Feeds mainly on insects, tadpoles and crustaceans, but adults may also eat small fish. With artificial breeding, it is better to feed trout with protein feed.

Sexual maturity in rainbow trout occurs at two to three years, and fertility depends on the age and weight of the individual.

• Pelyad

Found in rivers and lakes with cool water. Differs in rapid growth, undemanding to the conditions of detention and feeding.

Figure 11. Peled (adults and fry)

It can feed on aquatic plants, small plankton and insects. Compared to trout, peled is less demanding on water quality and oxygen content.

• Chudskoy whitefish

It is found in Lake Peipus, but can also be grown in other artificially created lakes. The weight of an adult individual can exceed 3 kg. For the rapid growth of the Chud whitefish, it is necessary to provide it with clean water at a temperature of 15-20 degrees and high-quality animal feed (Figure 12).

In the wild, it is found in the waters of the Arctic, where the summer is very short. It grows very quickly and reaches sexual maturity in three to four years. Spawning begins in November, when the first ice begins to form (Figure 12).

Figure 12. Freshwater breeds: 1 - Chudsky whitefish, 2 - chir

Due to its rapid growth and simple maintenance, chir can be bred in artificial reservoirs of the northern regions. In addition, a hybrid was created - pelchir (based on peled and whitefish), which is less demanding on feed, has increased disease resistance and accelerated growth.

Can be bred in stagnant cool waters. The only breeding requirement is to provide quality food of animal origin (insect larvae, frogs, tadpoles or fry).

Pike should be reared separately from other species, and since they grow quite quickly, the reservoir for their keeping should be large.

Figure 13. Adult pike and her fry

It got its name due to a biological feature: it changes color after being caught. After being pulled out of the water, he immediately becomes covered with black spots, which fall off and yellow skin is visible in their place. This is because the skin of the tench is covered with a thick layer of mucus, which hardens in the air (Figure 14).

Figure 14. Adult tench and its fry

For tench breeding, it is better to use calm water bodies with a weak current and a lot of vegetation. The tench feeds on small crustaceans, molluscs, insect larvae and food residues that have settled on the bottom. Due to this tench is grown together with other species, mainly with carps. The only drawback of tench is slow growth.

It is found in fresh water bodies with warm water. Catfish are carnivorous, and feed on fry, frogs, crustaceans, and sometimes they can eat small waterfowl.

Catfish can be bred in small ponds, canals, or simply pits filled with water. In winter, the catfish hibernates and is highly resilient. An overview of popular fish species intended for breeding in ponds in household plots is shown in the video.

How to breed fish in a home pond

If there is a free area on the site, it is quite possible to use it for arranging a pond and breeding aquatic pets. In addition, such a reservoir can have not only practical, but also decorative value: if you install a mini-waterfall or an alpine slide on it, such a pond will become a real decoration of the site.

But most often, home ponds are used specifically for breeding and further catching fish for food. It is important to properly organize the conditions for reproduction and growth of livestock, and to choose the right breeds that will easily take root in your reservoir.

More information about breeding you will learn from the video.

What you need to know

To regularly get a rich catch, you need to know exactly how to breed fish in a home pond.

This process has some peculiarities. First of all, you need to properly build an artificial reservoir that is comfortable for fish to live not only in summer, but also in winter. The depth of the pond should be at least 120 cm, but if possible, it is desirable to make the reservoir deeper. This is necessary, since in severe frost the water will simply freeze and the individuals will die.

Note: In winter, ice holes are always made in ice so that pets do not suffer from a lack of oxygen. If you're planning a large scale breeding, it's best to install a water pump or air compressor right away.

The size of the pond directly depends on the number of livestock that will be in it. For example, for small breeds (up to 10 cm in length), a pond with a water volume of 50 liters is needed, and if the fish grows larger, then a much larger pond will be needed.

Other important breeding points include:

• Adjusting the number of livestock is necessary, since when the pond is overpopulated, individuals will start to get sick or fight for food, which will eventually lead to the death of some of the individuals. To prevent this, part of the livestock will have to be caught for sale or consumption.
• The correct selection of material for the walls and bottom of the reservoir also plays an important role, since it must be absolutely safe. For this purpose, it is better to choose a high-quality film or special coatings for artificial reservoirs. The bottom must be covered with a layer of sand and gravel with underwater plants, which will not only create comfortable conditions for the fish to live, but also provide it with additional food.
• Feeding should be moderate, and active feeding is recommended only in summer or spring, when underwater inhabitants grow and develop. After feeding (after about 10 minutes), the remains of food are caught from the surface of the water so that it does not deteriorate and does not cause water to rot. In autumn, feeding is stopped, because when the temperature drops below 10 degrees, the fish completely stop eating.

It is important to correctly relocate the purchased fish to a new reservoir. To do this, it is placed on the surface of the water for some time directly in the bag for transportation, and only after that it is released directly into the water. This is necessary so that the fish adapts to new temperature conditions and does not experience shock. In no case should individuals caught in the river be released into an artificial pond. They can be infected with dangerous diseases and become a source of infection for other individuals. It is recommended to buy fish for home breeding only in specialized farms or pet stores. If you find a sick individual (lying on its side, swimming strangely, rubbing against objects, and a white coating has appeared on its body), be sure to isolate it and take preventive measures with the rest of the individuals.

Peculiarities

It seems to many that it is difficult to breed fish in a pond on a plot, but this task is quite simple and can be done by anyone who knows the basic features of growing.

Figure 15. Basic requirements for home ponds

It is best to populate fish in an existing, natural reservoir located on the site. If this is not the case, they dig a pond on their own. The main feature that will help equip an artificial reservoir in the country is the correct selection of varieties.

So, what kind of fish can be grown in a pond in the country? The best breed is considered to be carp, which feels good in small ponds and quickly gains mass, as it spends less energy searching for food.

Note: A small reservoir is also convenient for the owner, since it is much easier to care for such a reservoir.

For breeding carp or crucian carp, a pond with a size of 4 * 6 meters and a depth of up to one and a half meters will suffice. To determine the optimal number of individuals, you need to calculate the volume of the reservoir. Based on this indicator, no more than 20 individuals are populated per cubic meter of pond water.

Another advantage of a small reservoir is the fact that the water warms up quickly in it, which has a beneficial effect on the growth and development of carp. The optimum temperature is considered to be in the range of 24-26 degrees. If this indicator is higher or lower, pets will slow down the basic processes of life, they will stop eating and growing.

rules

Breeding fish in a home pond is not a difficult task, but it still requires certain rules to be followed.

The main points to consider are(picture 15):

• The bottom and walls of the pit must be well leveled and compacted, and it is desirable to additionally cover the bottom with cement;
• The bottom of the reservoir can be covered with a film or old cameras from the wheels of trucks, and if you plan to grow not only fish, but also crayfish, you need to place old pots or pipes at the bottom in which the crayfish will hide during molting;
• To fill the pond, you can use any water: well, spring or even tap water. But it is not recommended to populate fish immediately, since the liquid should warm up well in the sun, slightly stagnate and be populated by microorganisms.

To speed up the process of preparing water in the pond for settlement, you can pour several buckets of water into it from another artificial reservoir in which fish are bred or place a bunch of grass on the bottom.

What should be the conditions for fish in the pond

For normal life, fish need to create optimal conditions. First of all, this requirement concerns acidity: its indicator should not exceed 7-8 pH.

Note: If the acidity in the pond is too low, you can always increase it by adding a solution of soda or limestone.

The temperature regime also plays an important role. Before settling, it is necessary to equalize the temperature in the pond and in the containers in which the individuals were transported. This will help reduce the risk of developing a temperature shock and prevent the death of young individuals on the first day after relocation.

Dry food is mixed with water to form a thick porridge, and compound feed can be replaced with cereals or legumes. They are steamed and given out in a swollen form. It is desirable to feed the fish at the same time, and pour the food on a certain part of the pond. It is advisable to equip special pallet feeders for this purpose. They are easy to remove from the water for cleaning, and the use of such devices will help control the amount of uneaten food and prevent water from souring.

How to breed fish in a pond: video

To more accurately determine how to prepare a reservoir for fish breeding and what conditions must be provided for aquatic pets, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the video. Its author will tell in detail useful tips and recommendations for keeping and breeding fish in a pond in the country.

How to grow paddlefish in a pond

Paddlefish is an amazing creature, because this species can live in almost any climate, from subtropical to harsh continental.

Cultivation of paddlefish is possible only in reservoirs with a good bottom and the possibility of supplying and pumping water (Figure 16). In fact, ponds in which carp were previously grown are suitable for this species, however, it should be borne in mind that paddlefish must be kept for several years in order to obtain enough meat.

For feeding, natural food of reservoirs (zooplankton and phytoplankton) is used. In order for paddlefish to constantly have access to a natural food base, mineral fertilizers must be applied to the pond, often in fractional portions. It is important to thoroughly dissolve the fertilizer in the water so that paddlefish do not eat its particles and become poisoned. Superphosphate, lime, potassium permanganate, or very high-quality rotted manure after a preliminary laboratory test for chemical composition is suitable for fertilizing a reservoir.

Peculiarities

There are some features that must be taken into account when growing paddlefish.

Firstly, fry and adult fish cannot be kept in the same reservoir. When the pond is overpopulated, adults will begin to eat the young.

Figure 16. Breeding paddlefish in a home pond

Herbivorous fish are considered the best neighbors for the paddlefish, with the exception of the silver carp, which is very close to the paddlefish in terms of food intake, therefore, mainly carp, black carp and channel catfish are added to the ponds.

The profitability of breeding paddlefish is also explained by the fact that this fish is very easy to catch using a net or any other simple fishing device.

rules

In order for paddlefish breeding to be successful, it is necessary to provide individuals with a good supply of oxygen, since paddlefish are more demanding on the saturation of the reservoir with air.

Note: The optimal level is considered to be 5 mg of oxygen per liter of water, but the paddlefish will normally tolerate a slight decrease in this indicator (up to 2 mg/l) for a short time.

Larvae and fry are kept separately from adults, and starting from the age of one year, they are bred together with other fish (silver carp, white and black carp).

Grown up individuals, starting from the age of seven, are kept in separate reservoirs, and for the winter they are planted in separate ponds. They must be deep enough, at least one and a half meters, so that the fish can move freely in the water column even after the surface of the reservoir freezes.

The larvae are fed with small aquatic insects and zooplankton, and it is desirable to feed it in limbo. Adults must be weighed during the catching process and only the largest individuals are selected, while the rest are left to obtain caviar.

Many male entrepreneurs will be interested in the idea of ​​​​fish farming in artificial reservoirs. Its implementation will require a lot of unique knowledge, economically correct calculations, costs, but in the end, the pleasure from the process itself and the profits made will pay for everything a hundredfold. What percentage of profitability can fisheries bring in Russia? How much money will have to be invested? What kind of cultivation is best to start with?

Despite the fact that in 2014 wholesale prices for live fish decreased by 8-12%, the product remains in demand. Despite the temporary decrease in retail prices for fish, in the longer term, the trend towards an increase in the cost of prices persists.

Fish farming as a business has a good profitability. It is 8-9% for large farms, 9-10% for medium and small farms.

Profitability is facilitated by the ability to pay a single agricultural tax, instead of a number of state taxes.

What kind of fish is profitable to breed?

Among the existing species, it is better to choose one that is rapidly gaining mass, resistant to common diseases, and in demand by consumers. As a rule, it is carp or trout. The technology of their cultivation is different, and the cost of feed will also be different.

1. Carp is hardy, undemanding to the quality of food, normally refers to the indicators of many reservoirs. A shallow pond, up to two meters deep, is suitable for it, so that the water in it has time to warm up to 250C. It must be clean without organic and oil impurities.

   The smaller the area of ​​the pond, the more difficult it is to create good living conditions. The water in it cools and heats up faster, and it is quite difficult to keep the temperature at the right level. In a large reservoir, temperature and hydrochemical data are more stable, which has a positive effect on the health of fish. To get up to 10 tons of adult carp, a rate of about 5 hectares is enough. It should be prudently equipped with a water release system to facilitate catching fish at the end of the season.

   In order for the purchased fry to develop quickly and gain the required weight, they must be regularly fed. If you run them and wait until they grow naturally, you can lose time and a lot of live weight. When using high-protein feeds with protein up to 25% and fat up to 5%, up to 2200 kg of product can be caught from 1 ha, and only up to 120 kg with natural cultivation.

   The difference is noticeable, so the cost of feed is fully justified. 1 kg will cost about 8 - 10 rubles. The amount of compound feed should be 2-3% of the mass of all fish in the rate, with cooling it is reduced to 1-1.5-2%. It is not necessary to overfeed the carp, because the food remains will decompose and worsen the composition of the water, contributing to the poor health of the entire livestock.

2. Trout requires special knowledge of the breeder, high-quality feed and keeping conditions. For it, you need to find a deep reservoir, for example, a former quarry 15 m deep, in which even in summer the temperature in the lower layers does not rise high. This condition is due to the fact that trout are cold-blooded and prefer 15-190C.

   If the entire thickness warms up to 240C, it will die. Trout farms are often equipped on the basis of a river, or with the possibility of drawing water from an artesian well. They keep it in special cages 3x3 m, 5 m deep. Their design consists of metal profiles and nylon walls. The cost of a line of cages per 1 km is about 3.5 million rubles. With certain skills, you can make them yourself.

   For feeding trout, you can not use ordinary compound feed. A specialized one with specific components in the form of cartoids (a substance derived from krill) is needed. This additive gives the meat its characteristic red color. High-quality German food will cost about 40 - 55 rubles / kg.

When can you catch and sell products?

The interval from the moment the fry are released into the pond until they are caught is called the cycle. For carp it is 3 years, for trout 2.5. In this case, the maximum weight of carp is from 1 kg to 2.7 kg, and trout up to 1 kg. The larger the individuals, the greater the demand for it will be in the market, although exceptions are possible in the case of trout. In restaurants, it is served small, weighing only 300 g. Having a length of 20-30 cm, it fits perfectly on a plate.

In autumn, fish farms begin to catch carp, at this time the three-year growing cycle ends. At this time, the fish market is abundant, the price of the cost price drops significantly. Profitability may be at risk. It is better to keep the fish until the end of December, and sell in batches as demand and prices normalize. But in this case, it will lose a little in weight and decrease in numbers up to 10%.

Financial calculations

The purchase price of carp fry is 70-120 rubles / kg, with a weight of each fish up to 40 g. Thus, 37-45 kg of planting material should be put into a 5-hectare pond. In three years, they will produce about 4.7-5.5 thousand adults weighing up to 2 kg. If they are sold at a wholesale price of 53 rubles / kg, it will turn out from 500 to 580 thousand rubles.

Trout fry are more expensive, about 300-410 rubles / kg, with a mass of 10 to 50 g. Large material is cheaper, because it will ultimately produce fewer adults than 1 kg of smaller fry. During the cycle, up to 10% of the fish will die, this factor must be taken into account. The remaining 90% will turn into a kilogram fish at 140-150 rubles / kg.

The calculations are correct for a carp farm, which is capable of growing up to 50 tons of goods in three years, selling the entire lot at 60 rubles / kg.

The amount of the initial investment is from 250 to 400 thousand rubles. At the same time, it will be possible to make a profit no earlier than in 2.5 - 3 years. This is the downside of the fish farming business. But there are many ways to generate income earlier.

Ways to get additional revenue

Breeding fish in artificial reservoirs can be more profitable if you resort to the following methods:

1. By purchasing a two-year-old carp weighing 150-200 g, you can reduce the growing period to 1 year. The cost of the material will be more expensive, but the cycle will be reduced by a factor of three.
2. If possible, trout can be grown in winter in the cooling ponds of the State District Power Plant, where a favorable temperature regime is observed. If you keep the fish in such water from September to March, then the mass of each will increase up to three times.
3. Surplus profits can also bring weed fish, which are caught in large quantities when the water is lowered. The same crucian carp can breed and make up from 10 to 50 tons when caught. It can be successfully sold at 10-20 rubles per 1 kg. The entire batch can be sold to the Vietnamese, who make sauce and other national dishes from it. It does not make sense to grow specifically only this species, since the period of its growth is quite long.
4. Another successful method of selling fish all year round is the organization of paid fishing. Moreover, in the ponds there can be caught crucian carp, and growing carp and silver carp or sturgeon specially purchased for demanding fishermen. Thus, you can get about 5-7% of the turnover.
5. It is worth considering the possibility of processing unsold products. For example, smoking, salting or canning. But this option is more suitable for experienced fish farmers.

Sales issues

To sell their goods, breeders need to have their own fleet of vehicles, with special equipment. After all, you need to deliver live fish to supermarkets and restaurants in excellent condition. To do this, it is necessary to ensure a constant temperature in the tank and good aeration of the air. If you bring a damaged product, it can be returned.

It is possible to sell about 200-300 kg of goods in shopping centers with equipped aquariums. But there may be some difficulties with the establishment of distribution channels. The fact is that the responsibility for maintaining, cleaning the water and the aquarium itself falls on the shoulders of the retail outlet staff, so not everyone dares to deal with live fish.

Another problematic issue is the delay in receipt of revenue. Chain stores are most often calculated only after the sale of the lot. Such a delay can last up to 30 days, so the fish farm will have accounts payable.

Thus, fish farming as a business has many nuances and pitfalls. The success of the enterprise is possible with the full responsibility of the entrepreneur, the presence of a competent business plan and start-up capital. It is important to constantly diagnose water quality, fish health and development, and attract additional ways to generate income.

What could be better than your own summer cottage. After all, in this case, you can realize a large number of ideas. One of these is the creation of a small reservoir in which you can spend your leisure time fishing and even commercial fishing. Further about which breed is better to breed in a small pond near the dacha.

To understand which breeds are best suited for a not very large body of water, you should have an idea of ​​​​the most popular types of freshwater inhabitants:

Attention! It is advisable to isolate sick fish as quickly as possible from the rest of the living creatures in the pond. Calculating such an individual is very simple: it swims on its side along a circular path, rubs against various objects, and a white coating can be seen on the fins and eyes of sick living creatures.

The subtleties of breeding fish in a small pond

In order to fully enjoy the process of fishing without traveling far beyond your own dacha, you need to make sure that the pond near the house is created using a certain technology:

Advice. It is undesirable to place fish caught from the river in the pond created by painstaking efforts, as it may be sick. It is better to purchase all the necessary types of living creatures in a specialized store.

That's all the subtleties that you should know in order to understand what kind of fish to breed in a small pond. Happy fishing!

How to breed crucian: video

Fish growth continues throughout life. But the increase in body weight occurs unevenly. Juveniles grow faster than adults. In addition, the intensity of growth depends on the season, food supply and characteristics of the reservoir. For example, carp does not grow at all in winter, because at low temperatures it stops feeding.

When breeding fish in a pond, these features must be taken into account. Only in this case, the cultivation of fowl will be successful. You will find relevant recommendations in this article.

Growing fish in the country: what types to choose

Each variety of fish requires not only certain feeds and conditions, but also breeding technology.

The easiest way is to populate the yearlings in the pond in the spring and catch them in the fall. But if there is no opportunity to buy grown young animals, the pond is populated with fry and grown according to the method of breeding marketable underyearlings.

When self-breeding carp from fry, it is necessary to equip several types of ponds for spawning, rearing young animals and winter maintenance. Breeding young animals is a great way to save money on the purchase of ready-made planting material.

Note: The most suitable carp breeds are those that are common in the region of your homestead. For example, in the south it is better to grow the Stavropol and Krasnodar varieties, in a temperate climate - the Parsky and Central Russian varieties, and in the north - the Sarboyan and Altai varieties.

Since carp females are highly prolific, only a few males and females are needed for full breeding. As a rule, fish are used for spawning no more than seven years. Producers are kept separately from other fish. In addition, during the spawning period, they need to be intensively fed. Only high-quality males and females without defects are suitable for breeding.

Note: It is difficult to determine the sex of carps. This can be done only in sexually mature individuals and only during the spawning period. At this time, in females, the genital opening increases and turns red, and the abdominal cavity becomes soft. During the spawning period, males develop warts on their gills and head.

Spawning productivity depends not only on the quality of males and females, but also on the preparation of the reservoir. Since carp lay their eggs in the substrate, the bottom should be covered with soft vegetation, turf or needles. Sometimes artificial spawning grounds are equipped. The water temperature should be no higher than 18 degrees. Females lay eggs, and males fertilize them. Caviar matures in 3-5 days, depending on the water temperature. An indicator of 18-26 degrees is considered optimal.

For the normal growth of young animals, it is necessary to provide them with good protein food: small crustaceans, insect larvae, etc. Since a lot of larvae are hatched from one nest, they need to be seated after growing up, since the natural food supply of the pond will not be enough.

• When buying fry, you must first hold them a little in the water for transportation, and only then transplant them into a new pond. This is necessary to equalize the temperature. If this is not done, the fry will experience temperature shock and die.
• Slaked lime should be added to the pond to normalize acidity and prevent diseases.
• Regular application of mineral and organic fertilizers contributes to the formation of a natural forage base. However, when too much manure is applied, the hydrochemical composition of water deteriorates, so organic matter must be supplemented with mineral fertilizers (nitrogen and phosphorus). They must first be dissolved in water. But if the pond is intensively overgrown with algae, fertilizers are not applied.
• Special ponds should be prepared for wintering. If the reservoir is covered with a thick crust of ice, its depth should be about two meters. Water must be further aerated by making holes or connecting compressors. If possible, clean water can be introduced into the pond. In winter, carps are not fed, because at low temperatures they stop eating. In the spring, carp begin to be fed, and the amount of food brought in in the summer reaches two times a day. In addition, the fish must be gradually caught. Reducing the number of individuals will help grow higher quality products.

Young carp need additional feeding. Food is brought in once or twice a day. The number of feedings increases as the water temperature rises.

Note: You can use the white disc to determine if fertilizer needs to be applied. It is immersed in water to a depth at which it will be visible. If the visibility limit is at a depth of 25-30 cm, fertilizers can not be applied, and if more than 50, the pond is fertilized.

During the cultivation of carp, it is necessary to control the size of the fish by conducting control catches. The fish are measured, weighed and released back into the water. If individuals begin to lag behind in growth, water quality, food supply and oxygen content should be checked.

• Goldfish

This fish is unpretentious to the quality of water, which can be bred in a wide variety of water bodies. Usually crucian carp feeds on small crustaceans, but the natural food supply can be quickly depleted, so additional mineral and organic fertilizers should be applied. This stimulates the formation of feed, since crucian carp consumes artificial nutrition poorly.

In winter, crucian carp do not eat, and feed consumption begins only after the air temperature rises to 6-8 degrees. Of particular value is the hybrid of silver carp and carp, which is not only resistant to living conditions, but also undemanding to feed.

• White amur

It can be grown both separately and together with other fish that feed on vegetation. Planting density depends on the amount of aquatic vegetation. If the pond is moderately overgrown, you can grow 1-2 fish per 10 square meters. With a lack of vegetation, artificial feed is introduced, but grass carp eats them much worse.

• white carp

It can be grown at high density. This is due to the fact that the silver carp eats mainly aquatic vegetation. For full growth, individuals need not only a good food base, but also a favorable regime. The water temperature should be 25-27 degrees, and the oxygen level should be at least 5 mg / l.

It is characteristic that ponds for silver carp should not be deep. The penetration of sunlight into the water column not only contributes to warming, but also stimulates the growth of algae.

• bighead carp

Unlike the white carp, the bighead carp feeds on zooplankton rather than algae, although the growing regime for these varieties is the same. Considering that there are usually more algae in ponds than plankton, the stocking density of bighead carp should be less than that of white carp. However, it can be grown together with carp without the risk of forage competition.

• Rainbow trout

It grows and develops rapidly in cool water saturated with oxygen. The optimum temperature is 14-18 degrees. The fish feel good even at lower rates, but if it exceeds +22 Celsius, the trout stops eating and growing.

Trout ponds should be flowing, but they can also be grown in cages or pools. Spawning is artificially stimulated by collecting eggs and sperm. In the future, dry or semi-dry insemination is carried out (Figure 1):

• When dry, caviar and sperm are mixed, poured with water (so that the liquid covers the caviar), mixed again and washed after 5-10 minutes. After that, the caviar should be left in water for 3 hours to swell.
• When semi-dry, the sperm is diluted with water and added to the eggs just before insemination. The products are immediately mixed, and when the caviar swells, it is transferred to a special incubation apparatus. It is constantly supplied with water. Hatching occurs in about 5-7 days.

Figure 1. The order of insemination of trout eggs

The incubation apparatus must be covered, as the larvae do not tolerate light well. Fry are transplanted into pools after the gallbladder is completely dissolved. Examples of incubators for breeding trout fry are shown in Figure 2.

• Peled, pelchir

These are demanding fish, preferring cool waters with oxygen-enriched water. The advantage should be given to flowing ponds, but fish can also be grown in stagnant ponds, however, care must be taken to ensure that the water contains a sufficient amount of oxygen (6-7 mg / l).

• Sturgeons

They can be grown in small ponds, pools and cages. They must be flowing, and the slopes must be strengthened. Beluga, bester and paddlefish are distinguished by the fastest growth, therefore they are mainly bred in household plots.

Economically profitable is the cultivation of channel catfish. It adapts well to various growing conditions, is undemanding to feed and grows quickly. When introducing artificial feed, preference should be given to products rich in protein. In addition to ponds, catfish can be grown in pools and cages, but a more intensive feeding regimen should be provided.

This is a predatory fish that increases the productivity of water bodies. In the presence of a sufficient amount of feed, pike can be grown together with crucian carp or carp. As a rule, the stocking density is 2 individuals per 100 square meters, but if there is a lack of feed, the stocking density should be reduced.

• buffalo

Heat-loving fish, reservoirs for rearing which must meet the standard requirements for ponds for herbivorous species. Buffalo feeds on aquatic vegetation, and in order to achieve a good weight of individuals, it is necessary to provide a complete food base.

• Acne

One of the most valuable species due to its high palatability. In addition, eels are quite easy to breed. Larvae are caught in the coastal waters of natural reservoirs and transplanted into ponds. Planting density can reach 2 thousand individuals per square meter. Here the larvae stay for about a month, after which they are sorted by size and seated in different water bodies.

Figure 2. Examples of fry incubators

When grown in pools, the fish will be ready for sale in 3-4 months, but for this it is necessary to ensure high water flow and good aeration.

• Tilapia

In temperate climates, tilapia can only be grown in artificial reservoirs with a controlled temperature regime. Under this condition, further breeding of tilapia is not difficult. They reproduce quickly and easily, tolerate transportation well and are not very demanding on feed.

In addition, tilapia can be bred together with other fish that feed on aquatic vegetation.

From the video you will learn how to properly incubate eggs and keep fry.

Do-it-yourself pond construction

If your site already has a small pond, you can successfully use it for breeding fish. But, if there is no pond, you will have to build it yourself. First of all, you need to choose the right place for the reservoir: it should be in partial shade, in the lowest area (Figure 3).

Note: Pond shading can be made artificial, as closely spaced trees will contaminate the water with leaves, and roots can disturb the shoreline.

To build a pond with your own hands, follow these instructions:

1. The depth of the reservoir should be at least a meter, and the length and width is determined by the personal preferences of the owner.
2. The soil at the bottom of the pit is carefully compacted and covered with a layer of cement.
3. After the solution has solidified, a special polyethylene film for artificial reservoirs is laid on the bottom of the pit. It will help to quickly and easily clear the pond of debris.
4. Next, you can start filling the pond with water. First you need to pour out a third of the planned liquid so that the film at the bottom straightens out. After that, soil and river sand are laid out at the bottom, and aquatic plants are planted. Only after that you can run the remaining water.

Figure 3. The main stages of the construction of the pond

At the final stage, you can decorate the banks of the reservoir with ornamental shrubs, trees and grass. It is not recommended to launch fish immediately after construction: the water should stand for a while so that it has its own environment of microorganisms and temperature. To speed up this process, you can leave some withered grass at the bottom or pour two or three buckets of water from a natural reservoir into the pond.

Breeding fish at home

There are several methods of breeding fish at home. they depend on the type of fish and the way it is fed. Let's consider each of them in more detail.

Extensive system

Special feeds are not brought into the reservoir, and the fish feeds only on the food base existing in the pond. In fact, this is pasture fish farming. Its main advantage is the minimum financial costs for obtaining finished products.

This method can be successfully applied in the southern regions and in large reservoirs, where the natural food base allows you to grow carp along with other herbivorous fish.

Semi-intensive method

The basis of this method is that the need for protein in fish is provided by natural feed, while the energy requirement is provided by special carbohydrate supplements (for example, corn, wheat or barley).

The use of such a breeding system allows you to more thoughtfully use the natural food base and accelerate the growth of aquatic life for further sale.

Intensive breeding system

The forage base is created artificially, by melioration, fertilization and fodder. For this method, it is necessary to equip special reservoirs (examples are shown in Figure 4).

Figure 4. Ponds and tanks for intensive fish farming

The intensive method of fish breeding includes several technologies that are successfully used in modern enterprises:

1. Traditional: it is mainly used for growing herbivorous fish (for example, carp). The technology involves the use of several types of ponds for each growing cycle: spawning, nursery, fry, wintering and feeding. If fry are purchased from another farm, nursery ponds may not be equipped. Also, the technology implies a different level of intensification. If it is high, the fish are fed repeatedly, and several varieties can be in the same reservoir at the same time. In such conditions, up to 5 tons of fish can be obtained from one hectare of a reservoir. However, the effectiveness of traditional technology depends on the quality of running water, aeration and liming of the pond.
2. Continuous: young animals are grown up to a certain weight (1-2 grams), and then brought to marketable weight, without transplanting to other reservoirs. This method is simpler as it only requires the use of two types of ponds: fry and nursery.
3. Method of rearing marketable underyearlings: with this method, they practice earlier obtaining larvae and their further rearing in warm water. After that, the fish are grown in a sparse landing. During the season, you can get underyearlings weighing up to 500 grams.
4. high intensity(figure 5): refers to cultivation in tanks and cages. The cages are placed in natural reservoirs or coolers of industrial enterprises. With a high-intensity method, fish farming can be done all year round, breeding heat-loving species in summer and cold-loving species in winter.

Figure 5. Artificial reservoirs for high-intensity fish farming

When choosing a technology, one should focus not only on feeding conditions and water quality, but also on the type of fish. Below are the main features of breeding certain varieties.

Any of the selected methods involves stocking the reservoir with fish. How this process is carried out correctly is shown in the video.

What to feed the fish in the pond

The quality of feed and water directly affects the growth rate of fish. In addition, development slows down after puberty, so young individuals are of particular interest for household plots. As a rule, the rearing period lasts no more than two years, since during this time the fish reach the desired size, but the puberty period has not yet begun.

Figure 6. Requirements for the arrangement of a reservoir for fish farming

In addition, you need to properly equip the reservoirs for breeding. Examples are shown in Figure 6.

Note: When choosing a species for breeding in a household plot, it is necessary to focus not only on the intensity of growth, but also on other indicators: water quality, the availability of suitable feed and the climatic zone in which the farm is located.

All types of fish are divided into heat-loving and cold-loving (Figure 7). The first group includes most popular varieties (for example, crucian carp, carp, etc.). The second is much smaller in number. It includes species such as trout, whitefish, whitefish and peled. For example, cold-loving varieties are demanding on the level of oxygen in the water (the indicator must be at least 9).

Figure 7. Common types of fish to grow in a pond. Heat-loving: 1 - crucian carp, 2 - carp; cold-loving: 3 - trout, 4 - peled

In addition, they require lower levels of nitrogen and organic matter. For example, in a pond for growing carp, the nitrogen content can reach one and a half units, while in ponds for trout this figure should be zero.

Today everyone knows about the beneficial properties of fish as a gastronomic product. No meat can replace the totality of nutrients that are in it. Thanks to these properties, fish is always in demand among buyers and owners of catering establishments. That is why the cultivation of different varieties of fish at home deserves attention. Each of them has its own characteristics of living. Some fish can live and breed in pools and aquariums, for other varieties you only need to rent a pond. Before you start fish farming at home, you need to decide on the type of fish, the breeding of which is most acceptable.

To equip artificial ponds, you will need a fairly large plot of land. Sometimes renting a reservoir is more acceptable than building. It should be noted that the lease of natural resources is always formalized through a competition announced by local authorities. How to build ponds and whether it is possible to save space so that the business is most profitable, we will tell in our next article. Today we will talk in more detail about pools and the use of such a device as cages.

Technology of fish breeding in the pool

One of the popular ways is to breed fish at home in the pool. Tanks can be of different geometric shapes and are made of wood, metal, plastic, fiberglass and concrete. You can install the pool outdoors or in a utility room. The peculiarity of the technology lies in the dense population of fish in the tank and the full feeding with balanced feed. The advantages of breeding freshwater at home in special tanks include the ability to control the temperature and hydrochemical conditions. Such a business will operate all year round, without interruption during the winter months.

Business has another advantage - the full automation of most processes. However, this aspect may also have a negative impact on the final profit, since automation requires large energy costs. Water filtration and heating processes are mandatory for a farm at home. This significantly increases the cost of production, compared with the pond breeding option. Experts recommend growing expensive commercial varieties in pools.

As an example, which is suitable for the purposes of breeding fish at home, we can cite the small-sized compact module "Sturgeon". It is possible to grow any commercial fish in it: trout, catfish, carp, sturgeon. To install it, you will need an area of ​​25 sq.m. It is usually mounted in a garage, shed or greenhouse. The manufacturer supplies, along with the equipment, detailed instructions for keeping, feeding and caring for fish. In a pool of such an area at home, you can grow (per year):

• 5 tons of carp;
• 2 tons of sturgeon;
• 12 tons of som;
• 3 tons of trout.

The numbers are impressive. If we multiply them by the market price of these types of fish, then the income of the entrepreneur will have significant indicators. The cost of one pool is about 5 thousand dollars. Rental of such containers is usually not provided. In addition to the equipment itself, it is necessary to purchase fry, this is another expense item, feed, and take into account the consumed electricity in the cost price.

fish farming business

Another way is to grow fish using cages. The whole procedure takes place on a river or reservoir, so it can be called a breeding method at home very conditionally. For the smooth conduct of business, a reservoir is leased. In Russia, all natural resources are owned by the state. However, long-term lease of the pond is quite possible. Cages are used for heat-loving fish: crucian carp, carp, carp. They are a net that hangs freely deep into the reservoir, by analogy with fishing equipment. The cages are made of latex or nylon in the form of a mesh, with a cell from 6.5 mm to 10 mm. A wooden frame is installed on the surface of the water. In such cages, fry are planted. After that, the main business of the farmer is to feed the fish. There can be two options: to give additional food to fish from the surface and to attract river invertebrates to cages.

The positive side of this method is that the fish is grown in conditions close to natural, and the capital investment to start a business is minimal. It will only be necessary to rent a specially equipped reservoir for fish breeding, cages and a minimum of fixtures. This business also has its drawbacks. Firstly, these are large labor costs, and secondly, the inability to control the microclimate in a natural reservoir. The slightest fluctuation in temperature, and all the livestock placed in cages can be lost. This method among farmers has not found such wide distribution as growing fish in artificial ponds or pools.

We will talk in more detail about the cultivation of trout, carp and sturgeon in our next materials. Depending on the technology, it is necessary to choose equipment. Growing different game fish as a business has its strengths and weaknesses. The entrepreneur will be able to choose the one that is most comparable to his capabilities, knowledge and desire to build a prosperous business.

Step by step plan to start a business

To start breeding fish on a scale that will allow it to be sold at a good profit, you need to decide on some features of this business.

1. What type of fish, if artificially grown, will give the greatest profit in this region.
2. How the fish farm will be organized: artificial / natural reservoir, pool, breeding conditions.
3. Ensuring a quality forage base.
4. Production equipment.
5. Sales of products.

What equipment to choose for a fish farm

Breeding fish in pools is the preferred method if it is impossible to arrange an artificial reservoir in natural landscapes. To do this, you need a "bowl" of the water basin, provided with a filtration system and pumps. And mechanisms that distribute special feed for fish stock. The organization of a fish farm in dams, rates of natural or artificial origin also has its own characteristics. Natural pond - it is necessary to clean it before launching the fry in order to avoid its mass death.

How much can you earn from growing and selling fish

For example, if you grow trout in a pool, you can earn almost two million rubles in a year. Subject to a farm productivity of at least 10 tons of trout per year. It will take 2.5 years to grow the first batch for sale. But you can sell fish with a weight of 300 grams, which is possible in a year and a half. The sturgeon farm for the year will also provide a profitability of up to one and a half million rubles with a production of at least 5 tons per year.

How much money do you need to start a business

If the plans are to organize a sturgeon farm, then the initial capital will need about 1.3-1.5 million rubles. Starting investments for growing trout need from 200 thousand. It all depends on the price of fry and on the type of fish that are incubated in different seasons.

Which OKVED to indicate when registering production

To register a fish farm with the tax office, you need activity code 03.2, which is responsible for fish farming.

What documents are needed to open a case

Conducting business activities is possible in the form of individual entrepreneurship or as a limited liability company. To register an individual entrepreneur, you will need: a civil passport, an application for state registration, a receipt confirming the payment of the fee, a scanned copy of the TIN certificate. To register an LLC, you will also need: an application, two copies of the charter and a decision on the foundation of the enterprise, if the founder is in a single person. Minutes of the fees of shareholders and an agreement on the establishment of a company (if there are several founders). Then, a document confirming the payment of state duty. It is also possible to register a farming form of management, i.e. KFH, which is registered by analogy with LLC.

Which taxation system to choose for work

Taking into account the legal form of registration of a fish farm, the tax collection system can be general, simplified or, as in the case of a farm, the payment of a single agricultural tax on peasant farms.

Do I need permits to build a reservoir and grow fish

When organizing a fish farm, some bureaucratic difficulties associated with regional characteristics are possible. Permission to rent a reservoir must be obtained from the authorities of the region. This requires a large package of documentation. The stocking of a reservoir requires a special veterinary permit, the operation of a leased plot of land requires adherence to environmental safety standards, and more.

It is not legally prohibited to hatch fish in reservoirs and rates located on the territory of private lands. Therefore, it is much more efficient and easier to build a pond, install a closed water supply system in it for breeding fish or fill a quarry with water. Because this does not require permission from regional structures and other bureaucracy. But you will definitely need a veterinary certificate for the sale of fish (epidemiological report and invoices for fishery products).