Catfish in the pond sheeting Enlargement

Catfish are freshwater fish that is widely available in public waters such as rivers, swamps, dams and other water puddle. Catfish body shape is gilig (cylindrical) elongated, tapered flat-headed, and near its mouth covered with 4 pairs of elongated rigid whiskers. Catfish skin smooth, not scaly, and colored black. Catfish are easily cultured fish, including anywhere, can live at an altitude of more than 1,000 m above sea level with the condition of temperature 20-32 ° C, pH 6.5 to 8, and oxygen content of 3 ppm.

There are three types of catfish are commonly cultivated, of which local catfish (Clarias botrocus), African catfish (Clariosgoriepinus), and catfish sangkuriang. Catfish sangkuriang an improvement of the African catfish strains, namely the results of crossbreeding of batik from African catfish originating from F2 (second descent), African catfish female parent with F6 (sixth descent) male African catfish.

African catfish is a catfish species that have rapid growth, within 10-12 months weighing 200-300 g. can achieve While somewhat slower growth of local catfish, for example in the same time a new local catfish length reached 20 cm with a weight of 150-200 grams.

Raising catfish enlargement, ranging from seed to consumption size is usually segmented, ie, based on the length of his body, such as 1-3 cm, 3-5 cm, 5-8 cm, 8-12 cm, to measure the consumption of which is calculated by using weights like 6 fish per kg, 8 fish per kg, or 10 per kg.

1. Stocking
Stocking densities are often carried out by catfish farmers in the pool tarp around 100-300 individuals per m2 with seed size 5-7 cm. Cultivation was carried out until harvest or after reaching the size catfish consumption, ie, containing 8-12 fish per kg with maintenance of about 2.5 to 3 months old.
When the seed is still rather small catfish, catfish seed selection should be based on the grade / level. selection should ideally be done every 10-15 days. This is done by the following considerations.

a. To avoid the occurrence of food seized each other so that the smaller catfish to be difficult to get the feed.
b. To avoid cannibalism among the catfish larger towards the smaller catfish.
c. Balancing the growth of catfish because catfish are voracious so that the remaining feed from the feed portion of smaller catfish will eat catfish greater. In addition, these greedy nature can also cause swelling of catfish suffer stomach.
d. Saves given pellets and reduce the pool because of residual contamination of feed.


2. Feeding
Feed given to the seed of catfish, from the larvae (after starting a meal) to be at least two weeks of consuming natural food form of protozoa and zooplankton (daphnia and Moina). Catfish farmers in the pool tarpaulin used to provide feed silk worms as it is a natural food is easily available and good nutritional content. Furthermore,

catfish seed can be given artificial food pellet with a small size until finally given a pellet with size adjusted to the size of the mouth of catfish. When the catfish was growing up, farmers used to feed a chicken carcass that has been baked or boiled, chopped snails / slugs, dirt remaining households, own or feed ingredients in the form of pellets. The goal is to save the cost for feed.

3. Treatment
Catfish include the type of fish that can survive in water that is less good condition with high density. This is because the catfish has a labyrinth alai ventilator that can be used to take oxygen directly from air. Therefore, many catfish farmers who spread the catfish with high density to medium reddish water. In fact, there are some farmers who apply catfish cultivation without changing the water at all and only add water if the water conditions of the media decreases.
Another case when the environmental conditions of cultivation less profitable, for example in the area that the air temperature is cold, medium water level should not be too high-treatment is especially applicable when the catfish are still
small medium because water is too high can make a small catfish which are still losing a lot of energy to swim, ie when the process of taking oxygen in the air. This certainly can affect the speed of its growth.

Control of water also needs to be done when the rainy season, especially if a pool tarp outside. Rain water entering the water can make the media environment becomes acidic and quite dangerous catfish. However, to maintain the health condition of catfish can be sown krosok salt or table salt.
source: Cahyo Saparinto, Sower Self Reliance, 2009