How to grow fish in a pond. Fish farming as a business idea. We will organize a fish pond. How to breed fish in a pond: video

After choosing and improving a natural reservoir or constructing an artificial one, the question inevitably arises of which fish(s) to give preference to breeding, because the success of the enterprise depends on the right choice.

Basically, the choice of fish is influenced by the factor of the zone where the farm is located, climatic conditions, and, mainly, the temperature regime of the reservoir.

It is far from a fact that fish species that develop well in the southern regions of the country are suitable for the central and especially northern ones. Accordingly, there is an inverse relationship. In addition, the water quality of the water supply source and its capacity should be taken into account. In any case, the key condition for successful fish farming is knowledge of the biological characteristics and beneficial properties of cultivated fish.

Carp

It would not be an exaggeration to call it the most common fish grown in pond farms in Russia. It is valued due to its biological characteristics and useful economic properties. Carp is thermophilic. Of all freshwater fish, it is one of the fastest, hardiest, omnivorous and has good taste. In addition, carp is not too picky about the conditions it is kept in; it adapts well to changes in the chemical composition of water, food supply and other factors. Temperatures within 18-30°C are best suited for feeding, development and reproduction of fish.

Sexual maturity occurs upon reaching the age of 2-5 years and is determined by the temperature regime of the reservoir. In the northern and central regions of Russia, females mature in the 4th-5th year of life, in the southern regions - in the 2nd-3rd year, and males reach maturity earlier. If the high temperature is constant, then the individuals mature in 1 year.

This type of fish is quite prolific, which is directly related to the conditions of detention. Under natural conditions, carp spawn, as a rule, at a temperature of 17-20°C near the beret, where there is meadow and aquatic vegetation used as a substrate for sticky eggs.

The duration of embryonic development is determined by water temperature and is 3-6 days. 2-3 days after emergence, the fry begin to actively feed. In this case, natural food is of great importance: first zooplankton (rotifers, daphnia, cyclones), after which larger creatures come into play. Older children feed mainly on benthic organisms: bloodworm larvae, oligochaetes, mollusks. The fish eats well the additionally supplied plant or animal feed.

Carp is a fairly large fish. Its weight can reach 25 kg, and its length is over 1 m. The fish grows quickly. If the conditions of detention are favorable, then in the first year of life the weight reaches 0.5-1.0 kg, in the second year - 15-2.0 kg. For pond farms located in the central regions of Russia, the following standard has been adopted: fingerlings - 25-30 g, two-year-olds - 400-500 g, three-year-olds - 1000-1200 g.

Depending on the type of scaly cover, scaly, mirror scattered, mirror linear naked or leathery carps are distinguished. The first two are best suited for breeding in temperate climates (Fig. 1).

Reservoirs for fish should be fairly shallow, well warmed up, stagnant or weakly flowing, and the volume of soft vegetation is average.

The body of the fish is high, the shape is round, the head is small, the color of the sides is copper-red, the mouth is devoid of antennae. Loves standing water with a high degree of siltation. Crucian carp is very hardy and resistant to unfavorable environmental conditions. It is not afraid of acidic waters with a pH level of up to 4.5, as well as low oxygen content. In stagnant reservoirs overgrown with grass, it is usually the only representative of fish.

Puberty occurs at the age of 2-4 years. Fecundity varies from 100 to 200 thousand eggs. Spawning occurs in waves with an interval of 10-15 days. Adults eat benthic organisms and elements of aquatic plants.

The weight of the fish can reach 3 kg, although, as a rule, it fluctuates around 500-600 g. If the food supply in the reservoir is well organized, then already in the 2nd year of life the weight of crucian carp will be 200-300 g. There will be no problems with breeding fish regardless of the type of reservoir.

By crossing crucian carp with carp, silver crucian carp, etc., they achieve hybrids that are characterized by a significant growth rate and increased viability. Fish meat has great gastronomic value (Fig. 2).

Silver crucian carp

This fish, in contrast to the species described above, has an angular body shape, silvery sides and large, rough scales. This species is characterized by multiple gill rakers and several other features.

Just like its golden brother, silver crucian carp withstands unfavorable conditions well
environment, but it grows faster and fingerlings reach a weight of 20-30 g in the pond, two-year-olds - 250-300 g.

For food, fish consume zoo- and phytoplankton, and two-year-old fish also feed on benthos.

The silver crucian carp has an interesting biological property: in the reservoirs of the Far East and in some places in central Russia, in spawning populations the number of males, in general, corresponds to the number of females, but in other areas of the country there are only females. In this case, males of other fish, for example, goldfish, carp, and tench, contribute to reproduction. Moreover, only females are born from such mating in silver crucian carp. These offspring can be used for breeding fish in reservoirs with intense hydrochemical conditions (Fig. 3).

This fish develops quite quickly, reaching a weight of 40-50 kg and exceeding 1 m in length. The body is ridged with large scales. Cupid, like other carp fish, does not have teeth on its jaws, crushing food with strong saw-like teeth that are located on the bones of the lower jaw (Fig. 4).

Under natural conditions, the fish lives in the rivers of the Far East and in the adjacent diets of China. The fish came to the central part of Russia in the 50s. XX century and is now widespread in domestic fish farming. Such rapid popularity of cupid came due to the peculiarities of its nutrition. In the first year of life, when the body length is approximately 30 mm, it already consumes higher aquatic vegetation for food. Then the main elements of the diet become aquatic and terrestrial vegetation, which turns out to be flooded with water during the flood period or
which ends up in a pond. Among the types of vegetation that Amur loves are hornwort, elodea, urut, and pondweed. Most of all, the fish like young vegetation, although in its absence, adults can also feed on tough vegetation, for example, reeds and cattails.

Among the terrestrial plants loved by this fish are clover, alfalfa, and cereals. The intensity of feeding, growth and sexual maturation is determined, for the most part, by water temperature. If the temperature reaches 25-30°C, then the amount of food per day may be greater than the mass of carp. Active nutrition does not decrease with a further increase in temperature. When the temperature becomes lower than optimal, the feeding intensity drops, until it stops completely at a temperature of 10°C and below.

In the south of the country, the temperature is constantly quite high, so feeding and growth continue year-round. The ability to eat vegetation in significant quantities makes carp a good biological ameliorator of water bodies with large overgrowth.

The potential for growth is very high. For example, in the tropics, where optimal conditions (temperature, oxygen, nutrition) are maintained all year round, a one and a half year old grass carp reaches a weight of 8-10 kg. Of course, in Russia the conditions are not so ideal, but still in the southern regions the weight of a two-year-old plant can exceed 600-1000 g.

The time to reach sexual maturity is determined by the amount of heat in the pre-spawning period - a sufficient number of days are required for the maturation of the gonads when the water temperature remains at 15-20°C. If the temperature is lower, then ripening is delayed for 1-2 years. In the Krasnodar region, fish mature at the age of 4-5 years.

In addition to temperature conditions, the timing of puberty depends on feeding conditions. Lack of food inevitably causes delayed puberty and decreased fertility.

As a rule, grass carp weighing 6-8 kg lays up to 1 million eggs. He does this directly into the water, like other herbivorous fish. In nature, fish spawn in the beds of large rivers with fast flows and water temperatures of 18.5°C. Mass spawning is carried out at a temperature of 23-28°C. The duration of the period of appearance of larvae is determined by the water temperature: about 1 day - at a temperature of 28-29°C, up to 3 days - at a temperature of 18°C. Thus, by regulating the water temperature in artificial reservoirs, it is possible to breed offspring at the planned time.

In nature, the fish inhabits the rivers of the Far East and China. The body shape is similar to grass carp, but differs in a dark, almost black color, and the scales are large. If conditions are favorable, then the weight of this fish is no less than grass carp: up to 55 kg. For fish to grow rapidly, they require optimal nutrition and a favorable habitat. Cupid feeds on mollusks. It has powerful pharyngeal teeth with a wide chewing surface. The larvae eat zooplankton. Young fish eat benthos, while older fish prefer only mollusks. If there are no mollusks, then the carp begins to eat other representatives of the benthos.

White And motley silver carp

They are quite large fish, the weight of which can exceed 50 kg. They grow quickly. The appearance is distinguished by a large head with low-set eyes.

These species of silver carp differ both in appearance and in certain biological features. The motley has a larger head and a taller body. The color of the surface of the back is brownish-gray, the sides are silvery with large brownish spots. In white, the color of the back is grayish-green, and the sides are silvery, there are no spots. In the motley, the gill rakers are long and often located, while in the white, they are connected to each other in the form of a network, which helps to fish out small algae and zooplankton from the water.

The specific nutrition of both types of fish depends on the structure of their filtration apparatus, the composition and size of food items. Nutritional features are noticeable already at a weight of 3-5 g. At this time, differences in the structure of the filtration apparatus become obvious (Fig. 6).

No matter what age the silver carp is, the distance between the stamens will not change.

For food, it consumes mainly phytoplankton and detritus, and the share of the latter can be more than 90%. The fish begins to switch to phytoplankton when they reach a body length of 35 mm. Loves diatoms and green algae. In their absence, it can feed on blue-green algae, including macrocystis, i.e. algae that causes water blooms. He will not eat artificial food.

The motley variety of fish can feed on artificial food, but prefers zooplankton, just like carp. This factor must be taken into account when breeding them together.

Both species reach sexual maturity at different ages and depending on climatic conditions. For example, female silver carp in the south of Russia mature at 3 years, bighead at 4 years, in the central regions white carp mature at 7 years, and bighead at 8 years. Fish weighing 7-10 kg lay up to 1 million eggs.

If conditions are favorable and the food supply is sufficient, silver carp gains a weight of 2-2.5 kg over the summer, white carp - 1.5-2 kg.

Fish is valued for its fatty, tender and tasty meat. In fish farms, a hybrid of both species of silver carp has been obtained, which is characterized by increased resistance to low temperatures and the ability to eat phytoplankton and zooplankton, which is important, since they usually develop in reservoirs at different times.

The fish is found naturally in America. In the early 1970s. Three species were brought to Russia: largemouth, smallmouth
and black. In terms of their appearance, they resemble carp: they are just as large and grow quickly. The weight of the largest specimens of largemouth is 45 kg, smallmouth - 15-18 kg and black - 7kg (Fig. 7).

All varieties of this fish have different sizes, as well as different structures of the mouth and gill apparatus; accordingly, there are differences in the nature of nutrition.

The filtration apparatus is best developed in the largemouth, the other two have a lower mouth, a small number of rakers on the gill arches, and the rakers themselves are thicker and shorter.

Fledglings of both species, weighing up to 15 g, feed equally on zooplankton. As their weight increases, the black and smallmouth species show a preference for benthos, while the largemouth's favorite food remains zooplankton.

If there is little benthos in the reservoir, black and smallmouth feed on large zooplankton. Regardless of the type of fish, feed is favorably treated. Another difference between the species is manifested in the nature of behavior. Largemouth and smallmouth swim in the water column, black ones hide in the bottom layers.

These are schooling fish, they love quiet, calm water, and thrive in ponds. The main factor on which the success of their growth depends is the water temperature: compared to carp, buffalo prefers warmth.

The nature of their reproduction also makes them similar to dwarfs. Males reach sexual maturity at 2 years, and females at 3 years. Black and smallmouth females “mature” 1-2 years longer than largemouth females. Fish breeding occurs in the spring, and spawning requires water with a temperature of 17-18°C. Small sticky eggs are laid on grass that has recently been flooded with water, or on the remains of old vegetation. The larvae appear after 5 days at a water temperature of 18-21°C.

If there is a lot of natural food in the pond, then the weight of buffalo fingerlings can be 200-500 g, and two-year-olds - 1500-2000 g. The nutritional value of the fish is higher than that of carp.

Quite a large fish, often weighing over 30 kg. Brought to Russia from the USA. Loves warmth. The most acceptable temperature for reproduction and development ranges from 24-30°C, although soybeans will not survive badly for 3-4 months in reservoirs covered with ice. Picky about the oxygen content in water (Fig. 8).

Catfish eat almost everything. In nature, larvae and fry eat zooplankton, and older fish prefer chironomids, caddis flies, mayflies, mollusks, etc. Catfish over 300 mm in length can eat small fish.

Sexual maturity is reached at the age of 5-8 years. Catfish lay large yellow sticky eggs in the summer at a water temperature of 20-22°C. Fertility is not very impressive and is approximately 7-10 thousand eggs per 1 kg of fish weight. If the water temperature is 28-30°C, then large larvae (20-30 mg) appear after 4 days, and if it is 20-23°C, then after 9 days. As soon as the yolk sac has resolved, the fish can be raised on artificial feed.

In Russia, this type of catfish, taking into account its love for warmth, is usually bred in cages located in cooling ponds and pools with controlled temperatures, and in the southern regions and ponds together with other fish.

Catfish grow up extremely quickly. Has tasty meat. When growing in cages and pools, you need to pay close attention to feeding. The feed should contain a lot of high-quality proteins and vitamins. The feed can be slaughterhouse waste, minced trash fish mixed with animal feed;

A predatory fish that lives in fresh water bodies of North America. In Russia, it has taken root in the Krasnodar region.

Nutritional features depend on the age and size of the fish. The fry begin to feed intensively upon reaching 7-8 days of age, eating green algae, small crustaceans and detritus. Food for adult individuals includes insects, tadpoles, frogs, and small fish, and the volume of the latter can reach 80% of the total diet. If there is not enough food, then cannibalism is observed, and therefore the trout perch should be well fed.

The period of puberty is determined by temperature conditions. In the Krasnodar Territory, fish mature at the 2-3rd year of life, while in the tropics children appear already at 1 year of life. Fertility per 1 kg is approximately 45 thousand eggs. Spawns at a temperature of 18-25°C. The male builds a shallow nest in the ground with a diameter of 400-600 mm, into which the female lays light yellow eggs with a diameter of 1-1.5 mm. Water temperature directly affects the development of eggs, which lasts 2-7 days. For 3-4 weeks, the male protects the offspring by flapping his fins over the nest, forming water currents, which helps renew the water and clean the eggs from silt deposits. During the spawning period (6-8 weeks), the female can spawn 1-5 times. One female produces 5-25 thousand fry.

Trout perch develops quite quickly. If the water temperature is 25-30°C, the food supply and oxygen regime are favorable (8-11 mg/l), in the first year the fish weighs 300-500 g, in the second - 1-2 kg. The upper limit for these fish can be considered 10-12 kg.

The meat is white, lean, with high taste, somewhat similar to trout meat. The fish can be successfully used as an object of sport fishing (Fig. 9).

STURGEON FISH

For some time now, fish farmers have begun to pay more attention to sturgeon fish, which are bred in cages, pools, and ponds. Growing sturgeon is one of the most profitable enterprises in fish farming. A number of sturgeon fish and their hybrids are involved in commercial cultivation, for example, the result of crossing Russian and Lena, sturgeon, paddlefish, sterlet, beluga, bester (the result of crossing beluga and sterlet).

This hybrid was bred in the mid-twentieth century. and combines the best properties of its parent species: from the beluga it received predatory instincts, accelerated growth and high taste qualities, and from the sterlet it received the ability for early puberty.

It is as a result of this universality of characteristics that the fish perfectly adapts to a variety of breeding conditions, feeling great in both fresh and brackish water. Ponds, cages and pools are used as a medium. In the first summer, the bester gains 50-100 g of weight, in the second the weight already exceeds 800 g (Fig. 10).

In appearance and biological characteristics it is similar to a sterlet, but is larger in size, for example, its weight is 20-25 kg. It lives in fresh water, eating larvae of insects, mollusks, worms, crustaceans and fish. Under natural conditions (in the Lena River) it develops slowly and only at 15-20 years of age the weight is 3-4 kg with a body length of 800-1000 mm. Although it has significant growth potential, which manifests itself if grown in favorable conditions.

Reaches sexual maturity at the age of 10-12 years, spawns in summer at a water temperature of 14-18°C. It spawns in the zone of fast currents on rocky and pebbly soil. The size of the female directly affects her fertility, which ranges from 16 thousand to 110 thousand eggs.

Fish will feel good even when the temperature rises to 30°C. The fastest growth is observed at a temperature of 15-25°C (Fig. 11).

For Russian fish farmers, this is a new fish, which was imported from the USA in the mid-1970s. The only representative of sturgeons that feeds on zooplankton, phytoplankton and detritus. In terms of nutritional content, it resembles bighead carp, which is mainly determined by the structure of the gill apparatus, which passively filters food from the water using a system of multiple long gill rakers. In addition, fish can eat small fish and mixed feed, and this significantly expands the range of nutrition.

The paddlefish is also a freshwater species.

The fish is large and fast-growing; its length can exceed 2 m and weigh 80 kg. The body is elongated, linear, tapering towards the tail.

The back is dark gray, the sides and belly are light. The paddle-like snout is long and can reach 1/3 of the body length. Scales and bugs characteristic of sturgeons are absent. The fish adapts quite easily to any body of water. In the south of Russia, sexual maturity of males occurs at 6 years, females - 9-10. Paddlefish spawn in the spring, when the water temperature rises to 15-20°C. It spawns on sandy and pebble soil. Fertility is influenced by the size of the fish and the conditions of detention. Females weighing 10 kg lay 80-100 thousand eggs.

Paddlefish are bred separately or in company with herbivorous fish and buffalo. It can grow very well, which primarily depends on the sufficiency of food. The optimal water temperature for this fish is 20-25°C. The weight of fingerlings is 150-900 g, two-year-olds - 3-4 kg. Adults, in the absence of competitors for food, gain 4-7 kg per season.

A valuable property of the paddlefish is that it is able to winter in bodies of water that are under ice for a long time. This makes the paddlefish in demand in any region of Russia. In addition, the meat of this fish has high taste qualities. It resembles beluga meat, and sturgeon caviar, so paddlefish can be considered one of the most valuable objects of fish farming (Fig. 12).

Acne

The main type of this fish, which has become widespread in fish farming, is European.

The body is long, rounded in front, flattened in back - the dorsal, caudal and anal fins form one fin. The pectoral fins are small and round (Fig. 13).

The eel is an anadromous fish that breeds in the ocean. The European eel spawns in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, in the Sargasso Sea region. For spawning you need a water temperature of 16-1 7°C. The eggs are small, 0.9-1.4 mm in diameter, and develop in the water column. The transparent eggs look like a leaf, being strongly flattened on the sides. The warm Gulf Stream current moves the eggs to the shores of Europe, and there they end up in their native rivers.

The fish live in rivers, as well as in lakes and reservoirs connected to them until they grow up, after which they are sent back to the Sargasso Sea.

Eel farming is widespread in Taiwan, Italy, Japan, and France. They do this in piles and pools. It is best if the reservoirs are long and narrow.

The eel is a predatory creature and eats small fish, caviar, frogs and small crustaceans, therefore, when breeding eels, it is necessary to use feed with a high content of animal protein. The best temperature for fish development is 20-28°C, and the amount of oxygen should not be less than 6 mg/l.

Females, as a rule, develop faster than males. Over the course of a year, fish gain 100-200 tons. The productivity of an eel farm can reach 5 kg/m2. The meat of this fish is very fatty and tasty.

Under natural conditions, this fish is found in the waters of Africa and the Middle East, where since ancient times it has been considered an important source of food. Currently, its popularity is also high. This is facilitated by such valuable qualities as omnivorousness, rapid growth, ease of reproduction, resistance to various diseases, as well as tasty meat.

There are many species of fish, grouped into 4 genera. In fish farming, the most common genus is Oreochromis, of which Mozambique tilapia, tilapia aurea and red tilapia are popular. A peculiarity of tilapia of this genus is that they incubate the eggs in the mouth.

This type of fish reproduces without problems in ponds, cages, pools and aquariums. Reproduction in native conditions is seasonal and repeated several times throughout the year (up to 16 times). Sexual maturity is reached at an early age, and this is, for the most part, determined by the temperature regime of water bodies. Sexual maturity of representatives of this genus occurs at the age of 3-6 months, after which the fish are able to spawn every 3-6 weeks.

Fertility is quite low. For example, Mozambican tilapia weighing 800-1000 g can produce less than 2500 eggs. However, taking into account incubation in the mouth, at least 90% of the larvae emerge into the larger life.

Tilapia can live in both fresh water and brackish water with a low concentration of salts (15-2 1 g per 1 liter of water). Lack of oxygen will not be a critical factor for them. For example, at a water temperature of 25°C. will be content with 1 mg of oxygen per 1 liter, and die at 0.4 mg/l. For fish farming, it is important that these fish can breathe in the surface layers of water and live in reservoirs where there is such a content of organic substances that other representatives of the ichthyofauna simply do not populate them.

Despite the fact that tilapia love warmth, they are able to live in a fairly wide temperature range. Temperatures below 13°C are dangerous for life. Fish develop best at temperatures of 23-35°C. If the water is salty, they become more resistant to extreme temperatures.

Basically, these fish are universal in terms of nutrition, although there are species that prefer something specific (phytoplankton, higher aquatic vegetation or zooplankton).

Tilapia are often grown for both commercial and ornamental purposes (Fig. 14).

High palatability and ease of cultivation have given this fish priority among all other cold water cultivation items. The color of the fish is silver, the body and fins are covered with multiple black spots.

During spawning, males are darker than females. On the sides there is a bright red stripe of rainbow shades, which is why the fish was given its name. Females have a characteristic rounded head, the stripe is lighter, and they themselves are larger than males. The lower jaw of males curves slightly upward.

Trout develops best at a water temperature of 16-18°C with an oxygen level of 10-12 mg/l; The condition of the fish worsens when the oxygen level drops to 5 mg/l, and at 3 mg/l the trout die.

It eats caddis flies, beetles, dragonflies, frogs, and mosquito larvae. At the age of 1-2 years it also eats fish. When breeding in ponds, pools and cages, it is recommended to feed fish with compound feed with a significant protein content. The growth rate of trout is quite high: the weight of fingerlings exceeds 20 g, fish at the age of 2 years 150-200 g, at the age of 3 years - 900 g. In cages and in sea water it will take only 2 years for the fish to gain 2- 3 kg.

Sexual maturity is reached at 2-3 years. Fertility is directly affected by age and weight. Fish at the age of 4 years produce approximately 2.5 thousand eggs, at the age of 7 years - approximately 4.5 thousand. The eggs are large, 4-5 mm in diameter, orange-yellow in color. The brightness of the color is determined by the quality of the feed. In the south of Russia, spawning occurs from December to March, in the center and north - from March to early May. The optimal water temperature for spawning is 7-8° C. The eggs develop in approximately 40 days.

It is imperative to remember that for successful trout breeding you need a large amount of high-quality water with a high oxygen content (Fig. 15).

It is a lake-river whitefish. It feeds, as a rule, in lakes connected to the river bed by channels. It easily adapts to a variety of conditions and has excellent taste. It usually eats zooplankton, phytoplankton, detritus and benthos.

The growth rate is high: the weight of fingerlings is 80-1000 g, fish at the age of 2 years - 300-450, at the age of 3 years - 700-1000 g. Sexual maturity occurs at the age of 3-4 years. It spawns in November - December at a water temperature of 3-5 ᵒC. Fertility, which varies from 10 to 85 thousand eggs, is affected by the weight of the female and housing conditions. The diameter of the eggs is approximately 1.5 mm, the color is yellowish-orange.

Water with a temperature of 15-20°C is best suited for breeding. Peled are not so picky about the level of oxygen in water and develop well at 5-8 mg/l (Fig. 16).

Whitefish

The home of this fish is Lake Peipsi. It has acclimatized well in the lakes of the Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk regions. Reaches a length of 500 mm, gaining a weight of 3.5 kg. The growth rate depends on the availability of food, water temperature and oxygen levels in the water. For growing, the best water temperature is 15-20° C, oxygen is 8 mg/l or more.

It eats zooplankton and benthos, and large whitefish can also feed on fish. In pond farms, the weight of fingerlings reaches 70-90 g, fish at the age of 2 years gain weight of 300-400 g. Whitefish reaches sexual maturity at the age of 2-3 years. Its tender and tasty meat is of particular value (Fig. 17).

Cheer

Its native reservoirs are those of the Arctic, where the summer is very short. The fish is characterized by rapid growth, which is close to carp (for example, in the Leningrad region, fish at the age of 2 years weigh 600 g). The weight of some specimens reaches 16 kg.

Puberty occurs at the age of 6-7 years. Fecundity varies between 13-135 thousand eggs. The caviar is large, approximately 4 mm in diameter. Whitefish spawn at the end of November, when the first ice forms.

Among fish farmers, a hybrid of peled and broad whitefish under the combined name pelchir is of significant interest, which has significant advantages compared to the parent species: it can feed more variedly, consuming zooplankton and zoobenthos, the growth rate is 1.5-2.0 times higher than that of peled, more resistant to diseases (survival rate of fingerlings is several times higher than that of broad whitefish) (Fig. 18).

Fish that is raised in stagnant ponds with cold water. Valuable for its tasty meat, low fat content and high protein content. There is no need to create any specific conditions for it - plenty of food is enough. The pike is a predator that feeds on both dragonfly larvae, leeches, frogs, tadpoles, and fish: roach, tench, ruffe, perch, crucian carp, gudgeon, etc. If such fish are not enough, then the pike eats. food of dragonfly larvae, etc. Feeding activity depends on the month and even the time of day. The intensity increases in April-May, July, October-November. In winter, females eat more than males.

Pike are bred in ponds both separately and together with other fish species. For example, pike fry 20-30 mm long are added to a one-year-old carp. The total number of replanted plants is small and reaches 250-300 pieces. If forage fish are allowed into the reservoir, the stocking density of pike can be increased several times. Its growth rate is quite high (the weight of pike fingerlings in the Moscow region is 350-500 g, and in
age 2 years - over kg) (Fig. 19).

Tench

The fish received this name because of its ability to change color after it was caught and pulled out of the water. Large black spots immediately appear on her skin. The explanation for this is simple: the tench in its habitat is covered with a thick layer of very thick, colorless mucus, which hardens in air, darkens and peels off in parts, leaving large yellow spots (Fig. 20).

This fish loves quiet, grassy, ​​silted ponds with soft underwater vegetation, where tench prefer to hide during the day. He immediately discovers nutrition, consuming particles of food that has fallen to the bottom, not allowing it to rot, which improves the sanitary condition of the reservoir.

Can be grown together with other fish, in particular carp. The latter, on the contrary, prefers open parts of the reservoir, looking for natural food in the depths of the silt layer. Thus, when these two species are bred together, the natural food resources of the reservoir are most fully used and competition between fish is significantly reduced.

The food for tench is mainly large crustaceans, mollusks, chironomid larvae and representatives of other rough bottom fauna. The speed remains small, the weight of fingerlings is 10-15 g, fish at the age of 2 years - 150-200 g, at the age of 3 years - 300-350 g

The European variety of this heat-loving freshwater fish is widespread among fish farmers. Its food includes fish, frogs, and other aquatic organisms; it sometimes eats waterfowl. Puberty occurs at the age of 3-4 years. Fertility is approximately 20 thousand eggs per 1 kg of weight.

Catfish have several important advantages compared to other predatory fish: it does not require a large body of water - a modest pond, pit, canal, or quarry with an acceptable hydrochemical regime will suffice. Since the catfish is prone to hibernation, its wintering is greatly simplified - there is no need to worry about its nutrition and the presence of other fish in the reservoir.

A hardy fish that has no problems with transplantation. Most young animals die at the age of 1 month. At the age of 2 years, catfish can be quite successfully bred together with carp of the same age. One-year-old catfish are added to one-year-old dwarf fish in a volume of 100-150 pcs./ha. Breeding without proximity to other fish requires a high density - 800-1000 fish/ha. Its growth rate is significant - in the 2nd year its weight can increase by 1.5 kg (Fig. 21).

A large predatory fish that loves clean waters. However, it is quite often bred in carp ponds, despite the abundant vegetation. If weed fish are present (top fish, gudgeon, char, bleak, ruff, bitterling, bystryanka, etc.), then pike perch is bred as an additional fish. Reaches sexual maturity in the 2nd year of life.

Fish loves warmth and develops most efficiently at a temperature of 18-20 ° C; lack of oxygen is a critical factor. The growth rate is high if there is a sufficient amount of food in the reservoir. During the season, the fish gains over 500-600 g. Mainly, it eats zooplankton (bosmina, daphnia, insect larvae, cyclops). Then he switches to eating larvae and fry of fish, small fish (in Russia these are bleak, verkhovka, loach, bystryanka, privet, gudgeon, etc.) If the fish is too large, then the pike perch will not be able to swallow it due to the small size of the mouth and throats.

Pike perch swims and feeds in different layers of the reservoir depending on the temperature regime. The fish actively hunts for prey, prefers to avoid thickets and is usually found in deep holes with multiple snags, quarries, old beds of small rivers, etc. But the fish does not stay in one place for a long time.

The norm for planting pike perch fry in a pond with carp, if there is trash fish there, is 200-300 pcs./ha.

It must be said that breeding pike perch with carp creates optimal conditions for the growth of the former and the overall productivity of the farm increases. Pike perch spawns where there is no current, at a water temperature of 8-10 ° C, at a depth of up to 3.5 m. Female individuals spawn on the roots of reeds, reeds, willows, sedges and other plants in nests, the dimensions of which depend on the size manufacturers (300-600 mm). As a rule, spawning occurs at night. Then the females swim away from the nest, leaving the males as guards (Fig. 22).

OBJECTS OF DECORATIVE FISHING

Of the decorative fish, this one is considered the most suitable. In nature, its habitat is North-East Asia. The first mentions of breeding these fish in artificial reservoirs of China date back to the 10th-12th centuries. At the beginning of the 17th century. the fish was brought to Portugal, after which it came to England, and at the end of the century it ended up in Russia.

A lot of breeding work has been done on goldfish, so there are a large number of species. There are 16 original breeds, for example, the hibuna is a classic goldfish, the wakin is characterized by a short and slightly forked tail, the ranchu lacks a dorsal fin, the pearl is distinguished by mother-of-pearl scales, the comet has an elongated body and elongated tail lobes, the shubunkin is a variety with a short body and variegated coloring , the telescope is famous for its bulging eyes of different shapes and sizes, as well as its missing dorsal fin.

In most cases, females are paler and larger than males. The latter are armed with files on the pectoral fins and are decorated with a pearl rash on the head. Fecundity varies between 2-10 thousand eggs. They live 15-35 years, which depends on living conditions. They love running water. In terms of nutrition, they are universal: both plant and animal foods are suitable. They reach sexual maturity at the age of 1-2 years (Fig. 23).

This fish is native to countries such as China, Japan, and Vietnam. They grow up to 1200 mm in length. They have been brought to Russia several times since 1964. There are several varieties of fish. Some are monotonous (red, orange, white, blue, etc.), others are variegated with different color combinations (Fig. 24).

They reach sexual maturity at 2-4 years. Fecundity varies from 200 thousand to 1 million eggs. In terms of nutrition, fish is universal. Life expectancy in captivity is 30 years.

Does not require special breeding conditions. Capable of existing in any body of water. But it should be remembered that colored carp loves warmth more than its classic counterpart. At the same time, they tolerate wintering well in ordinary ponds.

Fish is a valuable dietary product. It contains a lot of microelements necessary for normal human life. Doctors emphasize that for the normal functioning of the body, each person must eat several tens of kilograms per year (over 30 kg) or approximately 80 g of fish every day.

True, there is still a clear shortage of fish products on the shelves of Russian stores. Our country's fishing fleet is small and outdated, and natural fish resources are gradually being depleted. Fish farming in Russia is just beginning, although the country has many natural reservoirs and plenty of opportunities to create artificial ones. In terms of water reserves, it is in second place after Latin American Brazil. A significant number of fresh water reservoirs provide opportunities for fish production.

There is only one question left - which one? How to organize your own business so that it brings tangible profit?

Fishing business

Any business is based on supply and demand. Fish farming as a business too. The demand in the domestic market is high. Nowadays, consumers demand a large volume of fish products not only from large enterprises, but also from private farms with their mini-farms. From a profitability perspective, fish production in a pond makes it possible to earn approximately 20% of net profit. Such commerce can be carried out in any region of the country, including central Russia.

At the same time, receiving fish allows you to spend a little time - about 3-5 hours a day are needed for care. And as a business, there is almost no risk of sudden changes in weather conditions or cold snaps. If you set up a business correctly, you can recoup the funds spent in a short period of time and achieve a sustainable income.

Selling fish

Of course, the production of fish products is not an end in itself. Selling fish is one of the essential factors of this business. The cost of fish products depends on cost, quality, type and demand. The most famous red fish is trout, its price is much higher than other fish, such as crucian carp, tench, etc., but the cost of such a product is significantly higher, and it is bought much less.

It’s no wonder that 70% of the live fish market is carp. Their cost is lower, but they are easier to sell. When you start your fishing business, be sure to look around the fish market and settle on the most popular fish.

You need to choose distribution channels, establish contacts with catering establishments (perhaps they will become regular customers), restaurants, cafes and supermarkets (many agree to cooperate with farmers if you have all the necessary permits). In the end, you can simply sell fish at the market.

Forms of fish development

The methods of breeding fish are quite diverse:

• Pond farming is the use of one basic reservoir to produce fish (this is enough for any species).
• Cage production of fish is especially effective for large specimens. With this form of cultivation, the producer uses a certain area of ​​the reservoir, distributing the water sphere with cage lines.
• The pool method allows you to produce fish in artificial, relatively small reservoirs. They can organize everything for breeding freshwater fish species: predatory (pike, perch), herbivorous (bream, carp), etc. Some businessmen have mini-reservoirs in the form of small containers.

Artificial reservoirs

There are two main ways to breed fish in nature: in artificial (dug by man) and natural (created by the elements) reservoirs. The latter path is quite difficult to implement due to the cumbersome administrative barriers of the Russian bureaucracy. Renting or buying, for example, a lake is very difficult. Considerable time will be spent collecting papers and obtaining approvals from numerous authorities. And you can buy the right to lease a certain natural body of water only after winning the announced competitive bidding.

An artificial reservoir is usually a pond. In Soviet times, collective farm ponds were up to 0.5 and even 1-3 square meters. km. What types of fish are suitable for breeding in artificial reservoirs? They usually grew crucian carp and carp; varietal species of fish were less common.

But ponds can also be small. Nowadays, small ponds with a water surface of 1-3 square meters are created on the territory of household plots. m. They do not require legal approvals. You can swim in them, use them for decorative purposes, or breed some fish “for the soul.” It can also be used for commercial purposes. After all, even such a reservoir allows you to generate good income. Fishing business can start on a small scale.

However, the pond owner must remember that there is a whole list of subtleties, such as water temperature, acidity level, volume of the reservoir, number of fish, etc. Ignoring the leading rules can lead to the death of fish. It is necessary to determine in advance the number of specimens and the species characteristics of the inhabitants that the entrepreneur is going to populate in the pond.

Pond requirements

What kind of fish to breed in central Russia depends on the characteristics of the pond. Have you decided to build on your own personal plot (preferably large)? Get ready for algae to grow in it - this is good free food for future residents. Peat and silt should not be left at the bottom of the pond, no matter what their quality. It is necessary to decide in advance that the reservoir is needed specifically for production and reproduction, and not just for keeping fish.

You can search for decorative parts of the pond according to your taste, but during construction it is necessary to determine some important factors when breeding fish: the most optimal volume of the pond is from 30 to 50 square meters. m, a smaller pond will be unprofitable, and a larger pond will be too expensive to construct and operate. It is necessary to dig a pond in a low-lying area with springs at the bottom; There must certainly be a shady place so that the fish can hide in it during the hot period.

It is better not to design a flat bottom for the pond, but to create areas with thresholds and long ledges. Any type of fish loves reservoirs with different soil characteristics and bottom depths.

Pond fish

To determine what kind of fish to breed in central Russia, you need to start with the type of reservoir you are choosing. An artificial reservoir has a unique microclimate that is not suitable for all types of fish. Standing water has less oxygen, it contains more microorganisms and various types of bacteria, small animals, including predators. The topography of the bottom, banks, and type of vegetation differ significantly from rivers. There is a lot of silt in them. Not all fish can live in an artificial reservoir. However, the types of fish for breeding in artificial reservoirs in our country are quite diverse.

Carp (carp)

Of the total number of commercial fish for obtaining marketable weight in artificial reservoirs, carp and crucian carp are among the most suitable. Carp (carp) is not particularly picky about living conditions; it feeds on small bottom organisms, algae, and fish food. Commercial carp grows within 3-5 years, standing out at a high speed.

A domesticated version of carp is carp - a fish that quickly increases in size, has several species and is able to adapt to any water conditions. Carp grows well in small, artificial and natural reservoirs warmed by the summer sun. Slightly alkaline water will be most favorable for them. Carp can eat plant and animal foods. Carp can reproduce by the age of 4-5 years.

crucian carp

Crucian carp is also of great importance. It is also a fast-growing fish. Crucian carp is omnivorous and very profitable for crucian carp. Crucian carp is a well-known fish for production in the breeding tank. It chooses exclusively still water and feeds mainly on algae. Adults can weigh up to 5 kg. The fish is very hardy. But in winter, due to thick solid ice, it needs oxygen. It can be served using holes in the ice sheet.

Trout

Nowadays, trout farming is considered a promising business and allows you to earn quite good money. The popularity of trout is known; its price is consistently high (450 rubles/kg). The current situation is facilitated by the increased demand of Russians for this valuable variety of fish. In addition, fish in paid reservoirs is regularly gaining popularity. An increasing number of anglers prefer this type of fishing, since the likelihood of pulling a fish out of the water is high and the vivid feelings from this will remain for a long time.

To grow trout, breeding conditions must be properly organized. When the young trout reaches 1 year old, 500-1000 fish are placed in the pond.

A full-scale fish complex includes a hatchery, pools for fry, a pond for adult fish, feed rooms, refrigeration machines for fish products and other necessary technical buildings.

Large trout, which are fed for balyk production, are kept mainly in cages and ponds, occasionally in deep pools. Producing trout in tanks requires additional investment in proper equipment.

Most breeder fish reach the age of 3-7 years and weigh at least half a kilogram. Its activity during spawning depends on these two indicators of trout. If the breeding cycles are managed correctly, spawning can be done all year round.

To grow trout, the following conditions must be taken into account:

• the suitable water temperature for this fish is between 3-24 degrees;
• it is necessary to keep the water transparent and fairly clean, with a good oxygen content;
• To quickly increase weight, the fish must be supplied with food, which must certainly include all the necessary substances, microelements, vitamins and mineral salts;
• You definitely need astaxanthin - a compound with a natural carotenoid, so that trout meat gets a bright red color.

If such conditions are maintained, the trout will reach a weight of 2 kg in about four years.

Sturgeon

Breeding sturgeon is a fairly profitable and promising business. One kilogram of sturgeon reaches 20 dollars, and the cost of black caviar reaches 1000 dollars per 1 kg. It is easy to calculate how much profit there will be from such a business and its payback period.

Under home breeding conditions, sturgeon breeds develop much faster. If at first a young sturgeon weighs only a few grams, then after a year some individuals will weigh 1 kg, and their body length will reach half a meter. After two years of fattening, the sturgeon grows to several kilograms in weight. Manufacturers begin commercial sales of individuals at an average age of approximately 1.5 years and weighing 2 kg.

On a large scale in Russia, development is taking place near the river. Volga, where river water is used in the fish breeding pool.

Number of fish

Effective fish breeding will be possible if certain rules are followed. To begin with, the most correct thing to do is to determine the type of container, the ratio of the depth of the reservoir to the selected type of fish. Then the problem of the number of fish fry for the pond is solved. Overpopulation of a reservoir has a negative impact on business. If there are obviously a lot of fish, food overconsumption begins, and the water deteriorates faster. When calculating the exact number of fish in the pool, you need to allocate at least 50 liters of water per 1 specimen 10-15 cm long. Pay attention to the size of the fish. There will be much fewer sturgeon fry than, for example, crucian fry.

The deep pool creates ideal conditions for fish in the winter, while maintaining a more even temperature in the summer. But there are also disadvantages: at depth, the water can remain cold for the active growth of microorganisms - food for fish. The absorption of atmospheric oxygen will be less than that of a small pool with an increased surface water surface. Because of this, the life process of the fish deteriorates.

Other characteristics of the reservoir

Pools for breeding fish of different species differ in terms of water surface, depth, water supply level, soil type and other natural conditions. They differ from natural bodies of water in the regulation of the processes taking place: growing selected fish, artificial feed, fertilizer, and so on.

Important reasons that largely determine the effectiveness of the development of residents of artificial pools can be temperature and chemical reactions. Some fish are thermophilic, while others, as a rule, feel great at low temperatures. Constant changes in temperature and acidity levels can be dangerous for some fish species. Measurements of the acid reaction of water, temperature levels, and determination of the volume of oxygen should be carried out quite often, especially in winter. Changing the level of acidity to reduce it is done by liming, adjusting the operation of lime filters and mills.

We must also remember to determine the compatibility of individual fish species with each other; some of them may compete for food.

In a properly created pond, fish will thrive and grow quickly.

Nutrition

It has already been mentioned more than once about food for fish. This is one of the most important factors in the stable growth of the inhabitants of the reservoir. Nutrition will depend on what kind of fish is bred in central Russia.

It should be noted that there is no universal approach to the principle of proper fish feeding. It's like asking about the best way to fish. In addition, a lot depends on the cultivated species, because all fish have their own food preferences. There are requirements for conditions of detention and assigned tasks. If a businessman wants to increase the growth rate of fish, then it is worth introducing a larger weight of protein-rich food into the diet. Fish do not expect large amounts of food. For example, to increase weight by 1 kilogram, food must have a value of approximately 4,500 kcal.

It is necessary to monitor the amount of amino acids in food, since they increase appetite and directly affect the rate of weight gain. They also prevent the occurrence of a large number of diseases in fish, especially in fry. The diet must also certainly include different types of fats; a lot of fiber (the weight of its consumption depends on the type of fish produced, the most required specific gravity is 20%, for certain species this level may be higher); biologically active compounds (these can be various enzymes or premixes); cereals (you can sprinkle bran into the food, they will be an excellent source of carbohydrates); important vitamin B; food of meat origin (special flour, low-fat dairy foods. Such a balanced diet will enable the fish to grow at a faster rate, improve its health and increase the rate of reproduction.

Breeding fish in a pond as a business is not the easiest thing, but it has good profitability.

Russia is a country rich in natural resources. It ranks second after Brazil in terms of water reserves. A large number of fresh water reservoirs allows for fish farming. This type of agriculture today is little developed among modern entrepreneurs, largely due to serious competition with foreign fish suppliers.

From a profitability point of view, breeding fish in a pond allows you to receive about 20% of net profit. This business can be done in both the southern and northern regions of the country. The zone of the Krasnodar Territory is more preferable.

In the article we will look at the features of fish breeding in a pond, find out why this particular breeding format is most preferable, calculate profitability, study growing technologies, and information about feeding.

There are 2 areas of fish breeding - in artificial and natural reservoirs. The latter option is quite difficult to implement due to serious administrative barriers. Renting a pond is very difficult. It will take time to collect papers and carry out approvals. And you can obtain the right to lease a specific reservoir only after winning a competitive bidding.

If an entrepreneur does not want to deal with all this paperwork, then he can independently create an artificial reservoir for keeping fish. Today it is grown in one of the following ways:

• in ponds (allows you to grow a large number of fish, including different species, has a high level of profit and lower financial costs);
• in swimming pools;
• cage breeding (usually this method is used for breeding large individuals);
• breeding in barrels and baths (almost always does not imply the possibility of making a big profit).

Businessmen who decide to seriously engage in fish farming settle on raising fish in a pond. This is the most promising and profitable method.

What kind of fish is best to grow?

Before choosing a place to breed fish, you need to decide what kind of fish to breed. The most popular on the market today are:

• trout;
• carp.

The ideal option is to grow fish of two of these varieties at once. But it is only available if you have a fairly significant initial capital. If this is not possible, then the following features should be taken into account:

As you can see, both breeding formats have their advantages and disadvantages, so the breeder must make the final decision himself, assessing the level of his knowledge, starting capital and responsibility.

Choosing a place for fish farming

Surely even novice fish breeders know that the rate of increase in the number and weight of individuals, as well as their health, depends on the level of water temperature and its acidity. It is quite difficult to assess these factors on your own, so it is better to use the services of a specialist who can give a fisheries biological justification at the end of his work.

The choice of location directly depends on the type of fish. For example, trout feels best at temperatures from 16 0 C to 19 0 C. It is better to keep it in a reservoir with a depth of at least 15 meters.

But carp is more thermophilic. It must be kept at a temperature of 24 0 C - 25 0 C. They do not require great depth. One and a half meters will be enough.

It is better to breed any fish in a drainage pond, so collecting specimens for further sale will be much easier.

If an entrepreneur has already decided that he will breed fish in a pond, then he has several more unresolved questions. He must:

• choose a growing method;
• properly equip the reservoir;
• purchase the necessary equipment;
• develop a nutrition system in accordance with the recommendations of more experienced businessmen in this field.

The growth rate and further productivity of adult individuals will depend on the volume of food, the correctly selected climatic zone and the quality of water.

Fish breeding method

The growth rate of fish depends on the conditions and place of residence. If it is kept in a pond, then it takes about 1.5-2 years to grow. This is how long it takes for a fish to reach a significant mass. To breed individuals in a pond, you can use one of the following methods:

1. extensive (the fish eats food from the reservoir, no additional additives are used) - requires almost no ongoing investment from the businessman;
2. intensive (reclamation of the reservoir is carried out to enrich the feed, additionally using purchased feed) - requires larger investments than in the first method, but allows you to increase the growth rate.

In addition to methods, there are also several technologies for growing fish: traditional and continuous.

The traditional format consists of a growing cycle lasting 2 to 3 years. This technology is used for breeding exclusively herbivorous fish. This technique is not so common today, as it requires a long time. It consists of several stages, ending with the release of water from the pond. In this case, it is necessary to use several types of ponds - wintering, feeding, fry. During fish transplantation, high mortality rates are observed.

Increasingly, fish breeders today are using continuous technology, as it is much easier to use. According to this method, young animals are raised separately and then planted in a feeding pond for their further growth and reproduction.

Features of selecting a site for creating a pond

Fish farming is possible not only outside the city, but also within it, provided you have your own large plot of land. The presence of plants in the pond is a must. Under no circumstances should there be peat or silt at the bottom. It is important to make sure in advance that the reservoir is suitable specifically for growing and incubating, and not just keeping individuals.

You can choose the decorative elements of the pond at your discretion, but during construction you need to take into account the following tips from more experienced entrepreneurs involved in fish farming:

• the most suitable pond volume is from 30 to 50 m2, a smaller pond will need to be carefully monitored, and a larger pond will result in serious costs;
• the pond must be located in a low-lying area;
• There must be some shade so that the fish can hide in it during the hot season;
• It’s better not to make a flat bottom, but to make areas with thresholds and ledges;
• Each type of fish requires the creation of a reservoir with different types of soil.

When breeding fish in an artificial pond, you cannot do without special equipment. The entrepreneur will need:

• gravity filter (will filter water, simple and easy to use);
• compressor (will saturate the water with oxygen);
• ultraviolet sterilizer (will not allow the pond to bloom).

Additionally, other devices may be needed; everything will depend on the type of fish being grown.

Diet

One of the most important factors for rapid growth is proper feeding of fish. There is no universal solution here. It all depends on the species being grown, because each variety has its own food preferences and grows to a certain size. Of course, a lot depends on the conditions of detention. If a businessman wants to accelerate the growth of individuals, then it is worth adding food rich in protein to the food.

Fish do not require a lot of food. So, to increase weight by 1 kilogram, the diet must have a value of at least 4,500 kcal.

It is important to monitor the amount of amino acids in food, since they are the ones that cause appetite and directly affect the rate of weight gain. It also prevents many diseases in fish, especially fry.

A healthy diet should also include:

• vegetable and animal fats;
• fiber (the volume of its consumption depends on the type of fish being farmed, the minimum amount is 20%, for some species this value may be higher);
• biologically active substances (these can be enzymes or premixes);
• cereals (for example, you can add bran to the feed, they will be an excellent source of carbohydrates);
• vitamin B;
• products of meat origin (special flour, low-fat dairy products).

Such a balanced diet will allow the fish to grow quickly, maintaining their health and reproduction.

Diseases as causes of high fish mortality

Sometimes entrepreneurs underestimate the impact of diseases on the reproduction rate and mortality rate. But when breeding fish in a pond, the risk of disease is very high. That is why it is necessary to check the condition of individuals at least once every 10 days. Freshwater fish are most often characterized by the following diseases:

Name of the disease	Symptoms of the disease
Rubella	The eyes bulge, the skin becomes inflamed, dropsy begins, and small hemorrhages appear.
Gill rot	Death of the edges of the gill tissue, paleness of the gills. Large individuals refuse to eat and become inactive.
Discocotylosis	Injury to the gill tissue occurs. The disease is especially dangerous for young animals.
Ichthyophthiriasis	White bumps appear on the body.
Dactylogyrosis	Decreased activity level, exhaustion, anemia of the gills, sunken eyes. Usually appears during the hot season. Young individuals are most susceptible to this disease.

Fish marketing channels

Farmed fish are quite easy to sell. Most often, entrepreneurs use the following sales channels:

• fish shops and kiosks;
• supermarkets and small shops;
• restaurants;
• sales to local residents;
• Internet trading.

To have the right to sell fish, you must be officially registered. It is better to choose the Unified Agricultural Tax as a form of tax.

The impact of business seasonality on its payback and financial results

Fish farming in a pond is a seasonal business. Peak growth activity occurs in spring and summer. But even in winter, individuals need to be looked after: fed, made holes in the ice. Fish are usually sold in the autumn.

The cost of a kilogram of fish will depend on the selling season. The lowest prices will be in September, October and November. But in other months the cost will be slightly higher, which will allow you to get a higher profit for selling the same amount of fish.

It is the seasonality in this area of ​​entrepreneurship that is its main drawback, which negatively affects the development of individual farms. Real income is possible within just 3-4 months. All other periods of time you will need to make investments.

To ensure that the enterprise does not turn out to be unprofitable, it is necessary to think through all the nuances in advance and draw up a detailed business plan with accurate calculations. We must not forget that the level of competition in this area is very high, so working in the fishing industry is worth it to those who are confident in their abilities and are ready to work for results.

Due to seasonality, you will not be able to quickly return your investment. The payback period can reach 6-12 months. And without special knowledge in the fishing industry, you can even go into the red.

The main cost items will be:

• purchase of fry;
• purchase of feed and all kinds of additives to it;
• purchase of special equipment;
• costs of constructing a pond and maintaining it.

You can hope for high incomes only if the fish are properly maintained and cared for and their numbers constantly increase. This format of entrepreneurship requires special attention from the businessman or hired personnel.

Related materials:

Fish processingFish tradingCrayfish farming

Business relevance

Today, fish products from large enterprises and small private farms are in demand in city markets. Breeding fish makes it possible to save precious time - you only need to spend 3-5 hours a day caring for them. By acquiring knowledge in the field of fish farming and organizing a reservoir, you can have a stable and high income.

Fish farming in artificial reservoirs as a business is practically not confirmed by the risk of bad weather conditions or seasonality. If you organize your business correctly, you can quickly recoup your investment and achieve a stable income.

Video on the topic:

Tips for beginning fish farmers

Directions of development

At the present stage, fish farming is developing in several directions:

• Pond farming is the use of a separate body of water to raise fish (suitable for a variety of species).
• Cage farming is important for large fish. The essence is to use part of a river, lake, reservoir, dividing the water space with cage lines.
• The pool method involves growing fish in artificial reservoirs. Suitable for breeding pike, salmon, bream, perch, carp, etc. Some entrepreneurs create mini-reservoirs, which are low barrels or bathtubs.

Video on the topic:

Pool growing method

Breeding sturgeon in the basement of a multi-storey building

What kind of fish is profitable to breed?

Many experts advise newcomers to the fishing business to start with carp and trout, as these species develop well and are in stable demand.

Carp quickly adapt to new conditions, are unpretentious to food, and resistant to various diseases. Despite the low cost, the income after selling the fish is quite high. For example, the profitability of the well-known enterprise OJSC Biserovsky Fish Factory is 9-10%.

A business plan for trout breeding is labor-intensive and complex, since this fish is demanding and capricious in terms of keeping conditions. To grow it, you cannot do without an experienced, highly qualified specialist. But such advantages as an accessible breeding system, high prices for products, excellent taste of the product, and low maintenance requirements (compared to other salmonids) attract many businessmen.

Many farms breed silver carp. The advantages of this fish are that they can exist peacefully with their “brothers” - grass carp and carp. Silver carp quickly gains weight and can reach up to a meter in height and 30 kilograms in weight.

Video on the topic:

Food for fry. (Excellent food for fry of different types of fish.)

Artificial fish breeding

The technology of growing fish in pools is a modern, progressive version of the intensive development of aquaculture. Pools for keeping fish have remained popular for many decades. Another way is to find the lowest place on your plot, dig a pit and build an artificial pond.

This option is profitable, but very labor-intensive.
The bottom of a pond at a dacha for fish farming must be level (pits can lead to waterlogging) and be insulated from groundwater.

The insulating material can be:

• clay;
• sand;
• asbestos;
• concrete;
• expanded clay.Large farms make several types of ponds:
• spawning for hatching larvae from eggs;
• juvenile;
• wintering;
• outgrowth;
• feeding

Video on the topic:

Artificial trout breeding

Closed water supply installations

Over the last decade, a new technology of closed water exchange - RAS - has appeared on the Russian market. There is no need to rent large areas of land. Modern fish farms consist of a hangar-type building containing several pools and water purification equipment. The modular system of containers allows you to keep fish at a high stocking density (from 40 to 400 kg of fish per 1 m³). The feeding process occurs automatically. The fish receives dry granulated food in specified proportions, which gives it the opportunity to gain weight and develop as quickly as possible. The water purification system sends it to all pools and removes contaminants, saturating them with oxygen. This makes it possible to use water for a long time with small losses - up to 10%.

The advantages of RAS are obvious:

• refusal to discharge contaminated wastewater;
• economical use of water resources;
• the ability to grow fish and vegetables in one system and create waste-free technology;
• ease of disposal of fish waste products;
• saving time in caring for fish;
• simple control of the dilution process - temperature, oxygen, light adjustment.

The only significant drawback of RAS is the high cost of the system.

Video on the topic:

Growing fish in RAS

Basic feeding rules

For rapid growth, it is important to carefully consider the purchase of fish seeding material. It is better to select fry from fish farms. Before purchasing feed, check the manufacturer’s certification, veterinary certificate and quality certificate.
Successful fish factories use commercial culture feeds containing protein. Despite the high cost, weight gain is doubled compared to conventional food.
When feeding, you need to observe moderation. The fish eats everything that is poured in, but the hydrochemical regime of the reservoir will be disrupted if the proportions are violated. This will lead to slower development. The rate and types of feeding depend on the type of fish, temperature and conditions of detention.

Video on the topic:

How to breed Artemia. (Artemia is used as fish food in aquaculture and aquarium farming.)

Business registration

The disadvantage of breeding fish at home for sale lies in administrative barriers. Obtaining permission to rent a reservoir or part of it from local authorities is not easy, and a large package of documents is required.
But the laws of the Russian Federation do not prohibit fish farming at a rate that is located on land that is private property. In other words, digging a pond yourself, installing a recirculation system, or pouring water into a quarry is much easier than working in a natural reservoir.
In this case, no permitting documentation is required. But stocking requires a veterinary certificate (epidemiological report and fishery invoices). It is also necessary to register an individual entrepreneur or LLC with the OKVED code 05.02 “Fish farming”.

Financial plan

It can be very profitable with proper planning and implementation of the idea. The cost of the project depends on its scale, region of development, choice of fish type, technology, etc.

If you open a mini-farm without hiring workers and saving on all aspects, the cost level will be distributed as follows:

1.purchase of fry – 300-500 rubles/kg. (when calculating, do not forget that 10% of them will not survive, and only 30-40% will be able to gain optimal weight);

2. equipment with an artificial pool - from 6 thousand rubles. per piece;

3.purchase of feed – from 15 thousand rubles. per ton;

4. purchase of equipment for fish farming - from 50 thousand rubles.

The information provided in this article is only a brief introduction to the essence of the business.

If you decide to move on to implementation, then you need to download a professional fisheries business plan with detailed calculations:

Starting investments range from 150 thousand rubles. To this figure add unforeseen costs, for example, for treatment. In general, fish farming is a profitable business, the main thing is to find sales channels. This can be a restaurant, cafe and other catering establishments, as well as sales at small or wholesale outlets.

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The page publishes only reviews that are useful to others and indicate that the person had experience in this matter.

By approaching the formation of the pond correctly, studying the water parameters and preparing everything for the launch of the fry, the owner will be able to grow the fish to the optimal size. Careful care and cleaning of an artificial reservoir will allow you to increase the amount of fish for sale, and therefore increase the volume of profit received.

• Home fish farming from scratch
• Breeding fish at home as a business
• Pond equipment

At the moment, many experts in the field of fish farming consider the fishing business to be a rather promising area. Therefore, by creating conditions for its development, it is possible to solve the problem of providing the state with fish and help fish farms in such a difficult task as growing various fish species.

Previously, it was popular to breed fish in artificial reservoirs, but in this case, poachers prevented the growth and development of young and older individuals, which is why fish farmers began to engage in organized reproduction and cultivation of fish on mini farms and at home. But in order for fish breeding to be successful, a novice fish farmer needs to study the breeding instructions and adhere to all the prescribed rules. Without what will home fish farming not bring the desired results?

Home fish farming from scratch

The most important resource for growing any type of fish is water. The growth, development and health of young animals will depend on its quality.

Step one. Creation of an artificial reservoir.

Before you start creating a pond, you need to devote time to a complete analysis of the water, studying all the indicators and quality standards necessary for populating the reservoir with new residents.

For this purpose, it is best to contact Epidemiological Surveillance and ask specialists to conduct the necessary analyzes of the aquatic environment and give advice on improving it, if necessary. If the water quality does not meet standards, do not despair. It is enough to aerate and clean the pond and everything will return to normal.

Step two. Determining the quality of water resources.

The water in a fish pond must have the following characteristics:

• Optimal salt ratio;
• Regular and irregular temperature conditions;
• The total number of microorganisms living in it and PH;
• General transparency;
• The presence of minerals necessary for future fish;
• Color qualities;
• The ratio of gases dissolved in water;

If all these characteristics meet the stated standards, then it will be possible to grow fish without any problems.

Step three. Launching the fry.

Before you release the fry into the pond, you need to know what temperature conditions are suitable for the breed of fish you have chosen. There are fish that are more suited to cold water, and there are fish species that will only feel comfortable in warm water.

Cold-loving species include grass carp, carp, catfish, crucian carp, sterlet, silver carp, trout, peled and salmon. Heat-loving fish need to ensure the water temperature is not lower than twenty degrees, and for those who prefer cool waters, from ten to twenty degrees. Wintering in a reservoir will also be determined by the species of fish.

Step four. Stages of growing fish.

In order to properly build your mini fish farm, you need to know that when growing fish, the stages of breeding are taken into account. First, the fish spawn, then the fry appear, followed by the wintering stage, the next stage of growth, and experienced fish farmers consider the feeding stage to be the last step.

Taking them into account, it is possible to clearly distinguish between these periods and create the necessary scheme for the growth and development of young animals and grown individuals. For each of these stages, it is best to equip your own pond or use plastic pools.

In a pool or spawning pond, fish farmers hatch fry from the eggs. The hatched fry are transplanted into a pond where they will grow. Upon reaching a certain age, they are placed in a nursery pond, where they will gain weight. When the generation gets stronger and there is no longer any need to worry about its health, it is transferred to a feeding pond, and for wintering a special wintering pond with conditions appropriate for fish is used.

In order for fish to grow and develop well, the water in the reservoir must be clean and enriched with oxygen. Also, it should not contain hydrogen sulfide and methane. To avoid their occurrence, the pond must be created in an appropriate area, which can be determined using a geodetic map. Also, the reservoir must have appropriate vegetation that will saturate the water with substances beneficial to fish.

Step five. Feeding.

Not only water plays an important role in growing fish, but also the use of appropriate feed additives. In order to grow healthy fish, it is necessary to use feed mixtures appropriate for each breed. They consist of fats, fiber, legumes, grains, proteins, minerals and vitamins that fish need. The secret of success is simple: in order for the fish to grow well, fish farmers fertilize the reservoirs and mineralize them.

For each age of fish, it is necessary to use their own feed additives, just as to boost immunity, they use therapeutic-stress food to help the fish cope with the disease and gain immunity to it. That’s basically all that fish farmers who decide to grow fish at home need to know.

Breeding fish at home as a business

For growing fish, the most important thing is water; without it, it is simply impossible to breed any of the fish species. It is for this reason that before deciding to grow fish at home, it is necessary to build a suitable artificial reservoir for it.

For this purpose, you can rent a state reservoir, but it is better to abandon this idea. Because it will take you a lot of time to obtain various permits and approvals, and in addition to all this, your “fishing place” will also be threatened by poachers trying to catch as much fish as possible in your reservoir. For this reason, it is best to forget about renting a pond from government agencies. Moreover, the cost of a business based on state lease will be very expensive for you.

Another option is to create an artificial pond on your country or summer cottage. Creating an artificial reservoir will also not be cheap, but it will still require significantly less material and stress from you, and you will also be one hundred percent confident in the reliability of your business.

If you want to breed fish for which fresh water is suitable, then you can use a polycarbonate greenhouse with a plastic pool installed in it. It is also necessary to purchase compressor and filtering equipment, which will cost three thousand dollars. If you can create such equipment yourself, you will significantly reduce the cost of equipment for the pond. But before you start creating or purchasing it, you need to find out exactly what equipment and materials you will need.

Pond equipment

Water purification in a reservoir should be done using a gravity filter. Installing it is quite simple and it will not take much of your time. It costs about five thousand rubles. It is used not only for water purification, but also allows you to remove microorganisms that cause water blooms and the appearance of mud.

In order to saturate the water with oxygen, compressor equipment is used. Its cost can reach ten thousand rubles. In order to prevent the water in the reservoir from blooming, sterilizers with ultraviolet diodes are used. To pump water out of a reservoir, you need to purchase a hydraulic pump (about five thousand rubles). You can also make it by assembling it yourself from tubes. In this case, the reservoir will be filled with water from underground sources and springs. Feeders can be purchased at stores that sell fishing tackle. Also, do not forget about drainage equipment.

Costs and technology of fish farming

The benefits of fish farming are obvious. On the market, let’s take sturgeon, for example, a kilogram costs about two hundred rubles. By buying fry or breeding them yourself, you can get up to a ton of fish per year, which is about one and a half thousand kilograms, which means three hundred thousand rubles.

By spending one hundred and fifty thousand on your fishing business, you can work off the costs in a year and still make a profit. The main thing is to find sales points and then you don’t have to worry about profits.

Of course, only those people who understand all the risks and are ready to take them can engage in fish farming, because this type of business is quite competitive. And if you are not ready to fight and breed really high-quality and selected fish, it is better not to start it.

And now, finally, you have made a firm decision to create your own fishery. What documents will you need? Since you will be starting a business, you will need to register your business. This will also require additional costs. Also, to grow fish you will need a license, which will need to be issued. And when you receive the first “harvest”, you will still have to undergo product quality control and obtain special permission from the relevant structures.

What is the best fish to choose for breeding?

While it is easy to calculate the costs of creating an artificial reservoir, the costs of purchasing and growing fish are very difficult. It is for this reason that it is necessary to draw up a clear business plan.

The most unpretentious fish to eat and keep is carp. It is also affordable. When purchasing a ton of carp fry, you will need to spend about a thousand dollars. Moreover, this fish breed will not begin to reproduce immediately, but only after three years. In addition, during the cold season, carp grow twice as slow.

In industrial terms, all varieties of sturgeon are considered the most profitable fish species. An adult sturgeon weighs on average five hundred grams. A kilogram of sturgeon sold wholesale will cost approximately ten dollars. In your artificial pond, you can grow about a ton of such fish in six months. And this means that this business can really be called profitable.

Growing fish at home on a mini-farm: how to organize it correctly?

If you follow all the tips described above, then growing fish in your pond or pool is not a problem. This is exactly what farmer Mikhail Atamanov does, growing sterlet and trout on his farm in Yaroslavl. Over the course of a year, he grows and sells up to ten tons of fish and does not intend to stop there. According to him, such a business brings him not only tangible profit, but also pleasure.

Business related to the sale of food products has always been considered extremely profitable. Eco-friendly products produced at home are always especially valued. One of the options for such a business is fish farming.

Fish is a universal product that suits almost everyone, so the demand for it is very high. On store shelves, in addition to products from farm reservoirs, you can often find fish grown at home. This type of business is suitable for both residents of small settlements and entrepreneurs from large cities.

Fish farming requires preliminary preparation and obtaining the necessary knowledge. It is not enough to simply find a place to raise fish, buy fry for breeding and wait for them to gain weight.

For the business to be truly profitable, it is advisable at the very beginning to study the experience of colleagues, visit fish farms, and become familiar with the conditions for breeding fish of different species.

Valuable advice and experience from colleagues can greatly help at the initial stage.

In addition to knowledge, at the initial stage financial investments will be required to equip the reservoir, purchase the necessary equipment, cover operating and other costs.

What kind of fish is best to breed?

A special feature of fish farming is the relatively quick return on investment, since the fish grows quickly and gains weight, which means that the return on investment is not long in coming. Many species of fish are fast-growing, and they are the most popular.

The following types of fish are most often grown at home:

• carps;
• fish of the salmon family;
• sturgeon fish;
• catfish;
• tilapia, trout.

Carp breeding is widespread throughout the post-Soviet space. Carps are omnivores, but they also tend to consume aquatic insects, worms, mollusks and zooplankton. With the right diet, they grow quite quickly.

Catfish are famous for the fact that they easily get along in reservoirs with other species of fish. Tilapia is large in size and grows quickly.

Salmon and sturgeon feed primarily on other fish. Breeding them can be a risky business, given the high cost of feed and low consumer demand associated with the high cost of these types of fish.

What is required to organize a business

To organize a business related to fish farming, you will need:

• organized space for growing fish (artificial tank, pool or natural pond);
• cleaning equipment, pumps and other devices (for example, used for automated fish feeding);
• feed and feed additives;
• fry directly.

At the initial stage, there may be costs associated with the purchase or rental of land, premises, arrangement of reservoirs, purchase or rental of vehicles, water supply devices and oxygen sensors.

In addition, funds will be needed to pay for electricity, fuel and chemical components. Expenses may also include taxes, salaries of involved employees, mobile phone services and much more.

All these expenses must be taken into account in the business plan. In addition to costs, the document must contain approximate timeframes for achieving cost recovery and making a profit. Even before organizing all the work, it is necessary to clearly understand what the sales channels for grown fish or fish products will be.

Features of growing fish

Fish farming is a specific industry that requires knowledge in such topics as water quality control, disease control, proper nutrition, and others.

A prerequisite for fish farming is the availability of a constant source of quality water.

The water temperature can be adjusted depending on what kind of fish is bred in the reservoir.

It is important to arrange convenient banks of the reservoir so that there are no difficulties with feeding and catching fish. Artificial fish tanks should be of comfortable sizes. Most often, round plastic pools with a diameter of about two meters and a depth of more than a meter are used for fish breeding.

You can start by arranging one or two containers; if the business progresses successfully, their number can be increased.

Separate requirements apply to premises in which artificial reservoirs are located. As a rule, they maintain a constant temperature within 18-22 degrees. The room itself should also be comfortable - its area should be at least 30 square meters.

When breeding fish yourself, completing all the work takes no more than three to four hours a day. Workers should be hired when the number of pools increases and when production activities expand.

Sales and income

When organizing a business, it is important to think through all possible options for selling products. The sales market can be quite wide: fish can be sold in stores or markets. In addition, you can negotiate its sale with cafes, restaurants and enterprises specializing in conservation.

Cafes and restaurants are most often interested in fish weighing 500-600 grams. Such indicators can be achieved in good conditions in just six months. You can also sell caviar, which is always highly valued by customers. To do this, it is necessary to raise older fish stock (up to 4 years old).

When breeding fish in natural bodies of water (ponds), you can offer paid fishing to clients as additional income.

It must be remembered that the field of fish farming is not rare, and competition among entrepreneurs can be high. In order to attract buyers, it is necessary to set prices several percent lower than those of other sellers. This will allow you to acquire regular customers and establish the necessary business connections.

Considering that the cost of fish starts from 100-120 rubles per kilogram, you can recoup your investment in just one year, and sometimes in a shorter period. Business profitability can reach 50%.

If positive results are achieved, it will be possible to expand production and take it to a new stage, and, accordingly, to a new level of income.

Fishing in our country is exactly the niche that makes sense to occupy, because This direction is not yet actively developing.

Meanwhile, more and more people prefer fish over the meat of birds and mammals. Partly because fish meat is dietary, partly due to moral considerations - the number of vegetarians in the world is increasing every year.

Our fish, compared to other countries, is quite expensive - this is due to the cold climate and the corresponding difficulties in breeding.

Someone does not want to accept live fish, someone pays for the goods only after sale - these nuances must be reflected in the resume when drawing up a business plan for growing fish.

How to organize a home fish farm?

It is worth noting that raising fish is not at all as simple as it seems at first glance. Some breeders admit that this is even more troublesome than raising pigs or poultry.

Unpretentious creatures at first glance, in fact, require constant care and attention, monitoring water temperature, proper feeding and monitoring the ecosystem of the reservoir as a whole. It is necessary to regularly check the health status of individual fish because a viral disease can quickly spread throughout the entire pond.

First of all, it is preferable for this business to have established distribution points. Practice shows that problems with buyers in the fishing industry arise extremely often, especially when it comes to chain stores.

If you decide to seriously plunge into this field, you should be prepared to spend a lot of time and effort. Neglect of these small factors will lead to dire consequences.

It may make sense to hire help or run the business as a family.

Arrangement of the reservoir

• To create a fish farm, many people prefer rent a pond.
  This is really beneficial because, in addition to direct breeding, it can be used as a paid space for fishing. But at home this is not always possible.

• As a less expensive alternative swimming pools are often used.
  They are good because they are equipped with devices for regulating water temperature, oxygen levels and other indicators. And in general, it is much more convenient to observe fish in them: you can track emerging diseases and protect the “baby” from attacks by predators.

• Third option - creating your own small ponds in the garden.
  This path is attractive because in such a reservoir it is easy to plant plants that will later serve as food for fish. In this case, there is no need to constantly take care of the feed yourself and calculate its quantity. The construction of a pond is also more economical - after all, the cost of pools is quite significant.

The issue of feeding is of fundamental importance, since overfeeding fish is harmful not only for their development - the remains of rotting food in a reservoir do not contribute to a favorable microclimate of the entire ecosystem.

To equip a pond on the site, it is necessary to dig a pit and provide a layer of bottom. To do this, alternate clay, asbestos, expanded clay and sand. You can also use concrete as a covering, and pour soil on top.

The only inconvenience of an artificial pond: It is advisable to plant plants at least three months before fish appear in it to form the desired ecosystem. Otherwise, if you start the inhabitants earlier, you will have to feed them yourself for some time. It is better to clear the pond of vegetation in winter.

The disadvantage of natural reservoirs is that the water there is often not warm enough, and when the fish are cold, they stop gaining weight, and food goes to waste. Swimming pools can solve this problem almost completely.

Choosing a direction

This depends on many factors: region, climatic conditions, interests of buyers, etc.

It’s up to you to decide which type of fish to choose for your business:

• Carp is considered one of the most profitable breeds for breeding - it is not too whimsical, and the meat of this fish has an extraordinary taste.
• Trout on the market is valued three times more, but it will require more effort from you: this fish is unusually fastidious in its care.
• Other species are also bred - tench, sturgeon, pike, etc.

The first two types of fish are mainly in demand. When choosing, you also need to remember - the larger the fish, the more in demand it is on the market, and the higher your future profit.

It is worth remembering, however, that it is not always possible to keep different fish in the same body of water: these creatures have their own hierarchy, and collisions are best avoided if possible.

Is it profitable to engage in this branch of livestock farming?

While ensuring normal growth, established sales and active sales, fish farming business can be very profitable.

But achieving such a result in the current conditions is not very easy for several reasons:

• Compared to the 90s, the demand for fish in Russia has dropped noticeably; many people cannot afford to buy it.
• Another a significant disadvantage is that the payback period is quite long.
  Fish grow extremely slowly, and some species even grow throughout their entire lives. In order to reach its maximum weight, carp takes three years, trout - two and a half. Not every breeder is willing to wait that long, so some buy “young stock,” although this is much more expensive than buying fry, but here you have to choose.
• The “capriciousness” of the fish also plays a role.
  For example, carp can be fed very well using special ready-made mixtures, but the taste of the meat will leave much to be desired.

For fish to be tasty, it needs a lot of attention and a special diet.

Fish may lose its taste, including due to improper maintenance during transportation. In this case, the buyer has the right to return the entire batch, declaring it “defective”.

On the other hand, high fish fertility and excellent profitability with well-established channels can compensate for all the shortcomings.

Farm equipment

If you decide to breed fish in pools, for this you will need a room with an area of ​​50 sq.m.. It should be well heated, equipped with electricity and running water.

You can use containers of varying depths: many small pools (about 1 m deep) or several deep ones. But it should be borne in mind that the larger the volume of the “dwelling” for fish, the more electrical power you will need to operate the equipment.

To equip swimming pools you need the following:

• Pumps for pumping water;
• Filters that purify water from germs and contaminants;
• Oxygen generators;
• Thermometers and other devices for monitoring temperature, water level, etc.;
• Incubator. If you have it, you will be able to purchase not fry, but caviar, and breed the offspring yourself, thanks to which you can save a lot.

At the very beginning of your activity, it is better to try to save on equipment - for example, use plastic containers, or even self-made ones, rather than inflatable pools.

In the future, after the project has paid off, you can think about more expensive equipment: special swimming pools, automatic feeding systems, etc.

According to experienced entrepreneurs, significantly increases business profitability using fish farming modules. In this case, the fry are raised in special containers equipped with tap systems for collecting and draining water, aeration, filtration and UV sterilization.

For information on the experience of using production fish hatchery modules to organize a sturgeon farming business, watch the video:

Sample financial plan

Assuming you set up a small home farm where you don't use outside labor and keep costs to a minimum, you might end up with the following business plan:

• Fry - 300-500 rubles per kg.
  When deciding on the number of fry, keep in mind that approximately 10% will die and only 30% will be able to reach full weight. Accordingly, if conditions permit, it is better to purchase as much as possible.
• Pool for growing fish - from 4 thousand rubles per piece;
• Equipment for swimming pools – from 50 thousand rubles;
• Compound feed for fish – from 10 thousand rubles per ton.

With maximum savings at the starting stage, you can meet 100 thousand rubles.

It is important to remember that trying to save on fry and, for example, catching them in a pond is not the best idea. There is a high risk that the fish will be sick.

In the future also It is worth considering possible unforeseen costs, for example, for treatment.

The average market value of a kilogram of fish is 200 rubles.

By purchasing fry for 15 thousand rubles, you can get a ton of meat per year from one cubic meter of water, thus achieving annual profit of 200 thousand rubles.

The business is profitable, but we should not forget about its long payback period. However, the wait is worth it if you subsequently regularly receive stable profits.

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An artificial pond on a private plot can become a source of not only aesthetic, but also gastronomic pleasure. By making some efforts to breed fish, you can get good help in providing yourself and your loved ones with valuable fresh product. And if you approach the matter on a grand scale, you will make money. After all, doing everything with your own hands in the country at home is not so difficult.

Fish species are selected in accordance with breeding conditions. The determining factors are air temperature and water composition. The type of pond is important - flowing or standing. When selecting varieties, one should take into account the compatibility of breeds and competition for food. The most unpretentious and productive are:

• Carp or carp- heat-loving, but resistant to temperature fluctuations. Diet: plant foods and mixed feed. It reaches sexual maturity at 1-3 years of age, depending on the ambient temperature. Varieties - scaly, mirror and leathery.
• - a large relative of the carp. Reaches a weight of 50 kg or more. Homeland - Far East. Eats large amounts of plant food and is used to clean overgrown reservoirs.
• Black cupid- similar to white, but feeds on shellfish. The scales are dark in color. It sanitizes ponds well from other types of pests.
• White and bighead carp- very similar until 3 years of age. Then the motley develops spots on its scales. Reach 50 kg. Silver carp feeds only on plants. Motley is more unpretentious.
• Buffalo- looks like carp, native to America. According to the growing conditions, it is similar to carp, but the meat is much more valuable in taste.
• Channel catfish- omnivorous, large, heat-loving. Homeland America. When fed correctly, it has a very pleasant taste of meat.

Less productive, but amenable to cultivation in a man-made pond, are:

Gold and silver crucian carp are unpretentious and fast-growing. Can interbreed with other fish breeds. Gains weight up to 5 kg. Feels good even with unfavorable water composition.

Trout, pike, tench, and sturgeon are also bred in artificial reservoirs.

Grass carp is one of the freshwater fish species suitable for pond farming.

Advantages and disadvantages of raising fish at home

An important advantage of backyard farming is the ability to obtain products that are in great demand for personal consumption or sell all year round.

Fish meat contains a lot of valuable substances and vitamins. The fresh catch has excellent taste.

The capital investment required to start fish farming is not very large. The labor intensity of cultivation is from 3 to 5 hours a day. Weather conditions when using an artificial reservoir have little effect on the growth of individuals.

Major investments occur at the initial stage. It is necessary to build a pool or dig a pond.

The main expenses during breeding are at the initial stage when making a pond

Their type and size are determined by the financial capabilities of the owner and the area of ​​the plot. The minimum depth of an artificial reservoir is 1-1.5 m. The volume is calculated from the estimated number of individuals populated in the pond. One fish 10-15 cm long should have at least 50 liters of water, i.e. in one cubic meter In a reservoir, no more than 20 specimens can coexist peacefully.

Types of breeding pools

The quality of water in a mini pond and its chemical composition depend on the source of the pond. It also determines the temperature, availability of food and oxygen supply of the aquatic environment.

What type of reservoir filling exists:

• Stream or river. Water enters the reservoir from natural sources through an inflow channel. The excess is removed by the outlet channel. The oxygen and plankton content in a pond with such filling is favorable for breeding, because closest to natural conditions.
• Rodnikovoe. Clean water with a high oxygen content is most favorable for breeding fish of different breeds. For a source of food, daphnia pits are set up in the area adjacent to the reservoir - shallow small depressions for the reproduction of plankton. They communicate with the main body of water. Daphnia move into the pond and serve as food for the fish.
• Atmospheric. In the absence of rivers, streams and springs, the source of moisture is rain and melt water. Well-heated water is favorable for the development of vegetation and living organisms.
• Closed water supply. The use of ponds without external water sources became possible thanks to the use of special equipment: pumps, filters, ultraviolet sterilizers, etc. When constructing a reservoir, special attention should be paid to waterproofing the bottom.

Fish pond with stream filling

How to make a pond with your own hands

Having decided to build a fish pond on the site, you need to determine its location, area and method of construction. If there are no natural sources of filling, the reservoir is built using a closed water supply.

How to choose the right site

The location for the pond must meet the following conditions:

• be away from noisy places and highways,
• be shaded by trees, but not under them, because falling leaves pollute the water,
• do not be located in a lowland, because there is a risk of contamination from run-off rainwater,
• have a source of electricity for equipment with filters for water purification and oxygen enrichment plants.

Required tools and materials

The most durable pond is one with a concrete bottom. Its device requires significant material and labor costs, which will more than pay off during long-term operation.

To build a pond you will need:

• crushed stone,
• sand,
• cement,
• mesh made of reinforcement with a diameter of 3-4 mm and a cell of 30x30 cm,
• board formwork,
• roofing felt or other material for waterproofing the bottom and walls,
• tubes for inlet and drain holes,
• waterproofing additive for plaster bottom and walls.

Technology for creating an artificial reservoir at the dacha

1. Mark the dimensions of the pond on the ground. To do this, use pegs and cord. For fish farming, the shape of the pond does not matter.
2. The pit is dug manually or using an excavator. The optimal depth is 1.5-1.8 m, the angles of the walls are 20°.
3. Before concreting, preparation is made of sand and crushed stone with the bottom compacted.
4. Waterproofing is laid from roofing felt or film and brought to the surface of the ground.
5. Pour the first layer of concrete onto the bottom 10 cm thick, compact and embed the reinforcing mesh along the entire bottom.
6. The second layer of concrete is poured.
7. Install formwork for the walls of the pond. When finished, they should be 10-12 cm thick.
8. The walls of the reservoir are reinforced and filled with concrete.
9. Concrete surfaces are covered with plaster with a waterproofing additive or liquid glass. The material for treating walls must be safe for fish.
10. Install the necessary equipment: pumps, filters, water oxygen enrichers.

For a safe wintering of fish, a wintering well should be provided. It is made from asbestos-cement pipes with a diameter of 80 cm or ordinary reinforced concrete rings. In a well buried to a level of 2.7 m, covered with a wooden shield, the fish will not freeze and will not die from lack of oxygen.

Even a beginner can build a pond with his own hands. Fish farming does not take much time if the process of stocking, feeding and catching is established. Even if the purpose of fish farming is not to generate income, this activity will bring benefits and pleasure.