The Chitala Fish Farming, Chitals are also very popular with the people of the United States as aquarium fish. They are also known by other names like chital fish, chital fish, chital fish, etc. Chital fish is a predatory fish. They are generally a fish eater of freshwater.
They live in the clean water of rivers, swamps, etc. Chital fish is available in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Malay, Laos, Thailand, and other Asian countries.
Chitals are also known as predatory freshwater fish. Physical characteristics, classification, food habit, breeding of this freshwater fish are listed below one after another.
This type of fish farming includes a unique open water system, which consists of biodegradable compounds and soil as the primary nutrients.
It also involves natural sunlight and a combination of slow, flowing water over the fish’s surface and an oxygen-rich bottom layer.
How to start Chitala fish farming?
- The first step is to build a fish farming site. An ideal location for Chautala fish farming has sandy soil, access to sunlight and water, and nearby natural food sources.
- The second step is selecting the fertilizer: use easy-to-source local materials such as plant cuttings and scraps, livestock manure, or compost.
- The third step is to choose the fish. Two Chitala species can be used for fish farming: Chitala lumbricoides and Chitala ornata.
They can be purchased from Aquaculture companies or bred naturally at an existing pond site.
After hatching, the juveniles have to be guided into nursery tanks and grown to market size in cages or ponds over three years before being harvested.
Pond Management Of Chitala Fish Farming
Chitala fish farms need maintenance to keep them healthy. They are fed and watered regularly, and they need to be cleaned periodically so that the waste is removed from their environment.
The water should be kept clean at all times. Chitala fish farming requires a neutral pH condition. In addition, it can be used as a compost or manure source, or as fertilizer for other crops in the area.
Chitala fish farming is an environmentally-friendly option for small-scale aquaculture because it has few by-products.
These farms are usually a source of food and income for people living in rural areas with few employment opportunities.
Pond Construction & Size for Chitala fish farming
The farm should be about 2,000 square meters. The pond construction for Chitala fish farming is not complex. Dig a pond in a well-drained area, and ensure that it drains from one end to the other so that it won’t overflow. The sides should be at least 2 meters high to stop animals from accessing the fish or food.
Chitala fish farming requires a specific depth of water to function correctly. The amount of water needed depends on the Chitala fish kept in the pond. The average depth is 3 meters.
The water used should be clean and free from contaminants and pollution. It must be treated with chlorine, algae remover, or any other cleaning agent to remove pollutants before adding to the pond.
Where to Seed Collection of Chitala fish farming
When the pond has reached a size that can be used for Chitala fishing, it should be seeded with Chitala spawn.
The Chitala spawn contains all the essential nutrients needed for the fish to grow. The most commonly used seed collection methods are a hand or a catheter.
Chitala fish farming is appropriate for small-scale farms and can help sustain rural communities. It requires little land and doesn’t use artificial fertilizers or pesticides to grow its habitat and feed its inhabitants.
Rearing the Fingerlings, Stocking in the Main Pond
The initial stock is usually one male and two females. The males are 2 to 3 years old, and the females are 2 to 3 years old. The fingerlings are kept in a tank (1,000 liters) for about 3 months.
They are fed with the fingerling food for about 40 days, plenty of crickets. The females are sorted out and discharged from the pond after 4 weeks.
The fingerlings are then introduced into the main pond. The adults are maintained in the main pond for about 6 to 10 months, depending on their size.
They are fed twice a day with a small amount of worm food. They change to fingerling food once they grow to 3-5 kg. The adults should be harvested after 10 months and not before winter as they may freeze during cold weather in the pond.
Feeding management
Chitala fish farming is similar to that of most other fish species. The juveniles feed brine shrimp and chopped worms, insects, and crustaceans.
They can also consume fresh vegetables, algae pellets, and dried food. Adult Chautala is fed on small worms and a more significant proportion of commercial fingerling food.
The pH balance should be inspected regularly using a pH meter and the water hardness, ammonia, and nitrate levels.
Detailed records should be kept of the water parameters and any actions taken to correct problems as they occur.
How To Make Chautala Fish Feed?
A healthy diet is one of the most important factors for Chautala fish farming. A good feed recipe should provide the fish with the proper nutrients and stimulate their instinct for feeding and growth.
It is very important to feed them with quality food because it will become a good protein consumer in the later stages of their development.
Chitala Fish Farming
| Formulation | Amount |
|---|---|
| Pomfret/Nilgaum (germ) | 1kg |
| prawns | 2kg |
| Moth/Prawns (range) | 2kg |
| Crumbles fishmeal. | 10-15% |
| Black Magic Pellet and Humic Acid. | 2 Liters |
| jaggery (sugar) | 1 kg |
| Vitamins | 100ml |
| Crushed coconuts (for the smell) | 1 liter |
Mix all this and make balls. Keep in fridge and feed once a day to the fish. Very cheap and simple recipe but effective. Happy Chautala fish farming.
Harvesting & Marketing
The fish can be harvested once they reach around 3 kg. They are removed from the pond and should be kept cool, at about 20 degrees Celsius, in tanks of water until it is time for them to be sold.
Chitala fish farming is mainly an export business to Europe and Asia. Most Chautala consumers are restaurants, supermarkets, and importers in those countries.
The fingerlings are sold at a very low price because of many sellers in this industry. Chitala fish farmers can be very efficient in marketing their products to meet a big need of our society.
Their operation is economically well-founded. They help the local economy develop and keep their fish healthy by providing them with the right conditions.
Farming Benefit of Chautala fish farming
Here are The Best 10 Tips For Farming Benefit
1. Chitala fish farming requires few resources and infrastructure that are essential for reliable business.
2. Chitala fish farming is widely accepted as an environmentally-friendly industry.
3. Chitala fish farming is a source of food and income for rural areas with few employment opportunities.
4. Chitala fish farming does not use artificial fertilizers or pesticides to grow its habitat and feed its inhabitants.
5. Chitala fish farming is appropriate for small-scale farms and can help sustain rural communities.
6. Chitala fish farming is a source of employment opportunities in small and medium-sized townships.
7. Chitala fish farmers can be very efficient in the marketing of their products so that they can meet a big need of our society.
8. Most of the Chautala consumers are restaurants, supermarkets, and importers in those countries that export to Europe and Asia.
9. Chitala fish farming is mainly an export business that offers a sustainable source of employment.
10. Chitala fish farming offers an excellent opportunity for those who want to start their businesses in a place with low living costs.
Conclusion
Chitala fish farming is a very effective technique to increase people living in our country’s rural areas.
The method is simple and doesn’t require much investment. Still, it is important to provide the fish with proper conditions to grow and feed properly for them to be economically sustainable. Thanks for reading the Chitala Fish Farming.
