Fish Farming: Start Smart and Keep Fish Healthy

Want to grow fish for food or profit without wasting time or money? Small-scale fish farming works if you focus on three things: a good site, steady water quality, and the right feeding and stocking plan. This page gives practical steps you can use the first season.

Practical setup and stocking

Pick a site with a reliable water source and gentle slope for drainage. For ponds, aim for 0.1–0.5 hectares if you want meaningful production but still manage everything by hand. For tanks or RAS (recirculating systems), start small — a few cubic meters lets you learn without big loss.

Choose a species that fits your climate and market. Tilapia suits warm regions and sells well; trout needs cold, clean water. Stocking density matters: for earthen ponds, use about 2–5 fingerlings per m² for tilapia. In tanks or heavily aerated cages, you can push biomass higher but only if oxygen and waste are tightly controlled.

Feed makes up the biggest cost. Use commercial feed with 25–35% protein for tilapia fry and juveniles, lower protein for larger fish. Feed at 3–5% of body weight for small fish, dropping to 1–2% as they grow. Watch feed conversion: 1.5–2.0 FCR is realistic for good feeds and management.

Water quality and disease control

Check water daily for temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), and clarity. Keep DO above 3 mg/L; higher is better during hot days. Maintain pH between 6.5 and 8.5. Test for ammonia and nitrite — unionized ammonia near zero and nitrite as low as possible. Aeration and partial water exchange are the simplest fixes when levels rise.

Prevent disease by starting with healthy fingerlings and quarantining new stock for 7–14 days. Keep records of mortalities and look for sudden changes in behavior, appetite, or appearance. Use probiotics and good nutrition to boost fish immunity. Avoid routine antibiotics — talk to a fish health expert before treating.

Small practices save big money. Remove dead fish daily, clean nets and equipment, and avoid overfeeding. Rotate ponds or use polyculture (e.g., tilapia with carp) to make better use of space and lower risk. Keep simple records: monthly growth rates, feed used, mortalities, and sales. Those numbers tell you whether your system is profitable.

Markets matter. Find local buyers before you stock fish. Fresh markets, restaurants, and local shops often pay best for consistent quality. Think about processing and transport — ice and a clean container keep fish fresh and maintain your reputation.

Start small, learn fast, and scale when you see reliable growth and market demand. With steady water care, sensible stocking, and honest record-keeping, fish farming can be a steady source of food and income.