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

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

Growing fish in the country: what types to choose

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

The easiest way is to introduce yearlings into the pond in the spring and catch them in the fall. But if it is not possible to buy grown-up young animals, the pond is stocked with fry and raised using the method of breeding commercial fingerlings.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

When growing carp, you need to control the size of the fish by conducting control catches. The fish are measured, weighed and released back into the water. If individuals begin to lag in growth, the water quality, food supply and oxygen content should be checked.

• Goldfish

This is a fish that is unpretentious to water quality and can be bred in a wide variety of water bodies. Usually crucian carp feed on small crustaceans, but the natural food supply can quickly become depleted, so additional mineral and organic fertilizers should be applied. This stimulates the formation of food, since crucian carp does not consume artificial food well.

In winter, crucian carp do not feed, and food consumption begins only after the air temperature rises to 6-8 degrees. Of particular value is the hybrid of silver crucian carp and carp, which is distinguished not only by its resistance to living conditions, but also by its undemandingness in feed.

• White amur

It can be grown either alone or together with other fish that feed on vegetation. Planting density depends on the amount of aquatic vegetation. If the pond is moderately overgrown, you can grow 1-2 fish per 10 square meters. If there is a deficiency of vegetation, artificial food is introduced, but cupid eats it much worse.

• Silver carp

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

Typically, ponds for silver carp should not be deep. The penetration of sunlight into the water column not only promotes warming, but also stimulates the growth of algae.

• Bighead carp

Unlike white carp, bighead carp feeds on zooplankton, not algae, although the growing regime for these varieties is the same. Considering that there is usually more algae in ponds than plankton, the stocking density of bighead carp should be less than that of white carp. However, it can be grown together with carp without the risk of food competition.

• Rainbow trout

Grows and develops quickly in cool, oxygenated water. The optimal temperature is 14-18 degrees. The fish feels good even at lower temperatures, but if it exceeds +22 Celsius, the trout stops feeding and growing.

Ponds for trout must be flowing, but they can also be raised in cages or pools. Spawning is stimulated artificially by collecting eggs and sperm. Subsequently, dry or semi-dry insemination is carried out (Figure 1):

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

The incubation apparatus must be covered, since the larvae do not tolerate light well. The fry are transferred to the pools after the gall bladder has completely dissolved. Examples of incubation apparatus for hatching trout fry are shown in Figure 2.

• Peled, pelchir

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

• Sturgeon

They can be grown in small ponds, pools and cages. They must be flowable, and the slopes must be strengthened. The fastest growing species are beluga, bester and paddlefish, which is why they are mainly bred in homestead farms.

Growing channel catfish is economically profitable. It adapts well to various growing conditions, is undemanding when it comes to feed and grows quickly. When introducing artificial feed, preference should be given to foods rich in protein. In addition to ponds, catfish can be raised in pools and cages, but a more intensive feeding regime should be provided.

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

• Buffalo

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

• Acne

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

When grown in pools, the fish will be ready for sale after 3-4 months, but for this, high water flow and good aeration must be ensured.

• Tilapia

In temperate climates, tilapia can only be grown in artificial reservoirs with controlled temperatures. If this condition is met, further breeding of tilapia is not difficult. They multiply quickly and easily, tolerate transportation well and are not very demanding when it comes to feed.

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

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

DIY pond construction

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

Note: Pond shading can be done artificially, since closely located trees will pollute the water with leaves, and roots can disturb the shoreline.

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

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

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

Breeding fish at home

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

Extensive system

No special feed is introduced into the pond, and the fish feed only from the food supply existing in the pond. Essentially, this is pasture-based fish farming. Its main advantage is the minimal financial costs for obtaining finished products.

This method can be successfully used in the southern regions and in large reservoirs, where the natural food supply allows carp to be grown together with other herbivorous fish.

Semi-intensive method

The basis of this method is that the protein needs of fish are met through natural feed, while the energy needs are met by special carbohydrate additives (for example, corn, wheat or barley).

The use of such a breeding system allows for a more thoughtful use of natural food resources and accelerates the growth of aquatic inhabitants for further sale.

Intensive breeding system

The food supply is created artificially, through land reclamation, application of fertilizers and feed. For this method, it is necessary to equip special reservoirs (examples are shown in Figure 4).

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

1. Traditional: used primarily for growing herbivorous fish (for example, carp). The technology involves the use of several types of ponds for each growing cycle: spawning, rearing, fry, wintering and feeding. If fry are purchased from another farm, nursery ponds do not need to be equipped. Technology also implies different levels of intensification. If it is high, the fish are fed repeatedly, and several varieties can be present in one body of water at the same time. In such conditions, up to 5 tons of fish can be obtained from one hectare of reservoir. However, the effectiveness of traditional technology depends on the quality of running water, aeration and liming of the pond.
2. Continuous: young animals are grown to a certain weight (1-2 grams), and then brought to marketable weight, without being transplanted to other bodies of water. This method is simpler because it requires the use of only two types of ponds: fry and nursery ponds.
3. Method of growing commercial fingerlings: With this method, the practice is to first obtain larvae and then raise them in warm water. After this, the fish are reared in sparse stocking. During the season you can get fingerlings weighing up to 500 grams.
4. High intensity(Figure 5): involves growing in pools and cages. Cages are placed in natural reservoirs or coolers of industrial enterprises. With a high-intensity method, fish farming can be done all year round, breeding heat-loving species in summer and cold-loving species in winter.

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

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

What to feed the fish in the pond

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

In addition, it is necessary to properly equip reservoirs for breeding. Examples are shown in Figure 6.

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

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

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

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

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

What kind of fish is best to breed in a small pond?

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

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

Fish breeds

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Golden carp

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

Golden crucian carp feeds on small plankton and aquatic vegetation, and the weight of an adult individual can reach 3 kg, but more often it is caught after reaching a weight of 0.5 kg. The value of golden crucian carp is also that it can be grown in any reservoir and crossed with other species (for example, with carp or silver crucian carp). Hybrids are highly resilient and undemanding in terms of nutrition and maintenance.

• Goldfish

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

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

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

• White amur

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

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

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

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

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

• Black cupid

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

• White and bighead carp

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

White and bighead carp differ in some external characteristics (Figure 4). The Pied has a larger head and silvery scales with brown spots on the sides. The bighead carp also has silvery scales, but has no spots. In addition, they differ in the structure of the filtration apparatus: in the motley one, the gill rakers are long and frequent, while in the white one they grow together, forming a network for filtering algae and small plankton. These differences can only be determined at the age of 3-5 years, when the individual reaches a fairly large size.

Silver carp feeds on various types of algae and does not accept artificial food. The exception is the bighead carp, which can also feed on artificial food.

Note: Bighead carp also eat plankton animals, so it cannot be grown together with carp, so that there is no food competition in the reservoir.

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

• Buffalo

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

• Channel catfish

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

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

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

• Trout perch

This is a predator living in fresh water bodies of North America. The diet depends on the age of the individual. The fry feed on algae or zooplankton, while the adults eat mollusks, tadpoles, small fish and insects. If there is a lack of food, cannibalism can begin, so when growing trout perch, you need to make sure that the individuals have enough food, and the fry must be separated from the adults. From Figure 6 you can determine what trout perch looks like.

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

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

• Sturgeon

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

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

Paddlefish tolerate winter well and can remain under the ice for several months. Paddlefish meat resembles beluga meat, and caviar is similar to sturgeon.

• Acne

There are 15 species of eels, but mainly European and Japanese ones are bred (Figure 8). The eel has a long body with short fins. The eel is an anadromous species and breeds in the ocean. For example, the European eel goes to spawn in the Bermuda and Bahamas islands in the Atlantic Ocean, and the current carries the eggs to European rivers, where they develop further.

It is better to use long and narrow containers for growing eels. Eels are predators, so small frogs, crustaceans, insects and fry are used to feed them.

• Tilapia

In the wild it is found in Africa and the Middle East. Tilapia reproduces easily, grows quickly and is undemanding when it comes to feed. Meat has high gastronomic value (Figure 9).

There are about 70 species of tilapia, but the most common is the genus Oreochromis. The development of eggs occurs in the oral cavity of an adult, which has a positive effect on the replenishment of the population. Under favorable breeding conditions and kept in warm water, tilapia spawns several times a year, but is not highly fertile.

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

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

The optimal temperature for breeding is considered to be 16-18 degrees, but there must be enough oxygen in the water. If its content is 3 mg/l or lower, the trout will die.

It feeds mainly on insects, tadpoles and crustaceans, but adults can also eat small fish. When artificially breeding trout, it is better to feed them with protein feed.

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

• Peled

Found in rivers and lakes with cool water. It is characterized by rapid growth, undemanding conditions of keeping and feeding.

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

• Peipus whitefish

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

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

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

Can be bred in standing, cool waters. The only requirement for breeding is the provision of high-quality food of animal origin (insect larvae, frogs, tadpoles or fry).

Pike should be grown separately from other species, and since it grows quite quickly, the reservoir for its maintenance must be large.

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

To breed tench, it is better to use calm reservoirs with weak currents and plenty of vegetation. Tench feed on small crustaceans, mollusks, insect larvae and the remains of food that has settled on the bottom. Thanks to this, tench are grown together with other species, mainly carp. The only drawback of tench is its slow growth.

Found in fresh water bodies with warm water. Catfish are carnivores and feed on fry, frogs, crustaceans, and can sometimes eat small waterfowl.

Catfish can be bred in small reservoirs, canals or simply pits filled with water. In winter, catfish hibernate and are highly resilient. An overview of popular fish species intended for breeding in ponds on personal plots is given in the video.

How to raise fish in a home pond

If there is free space on the site, it can be used for arranging a pond and breeding aquatic pets. In addition, such a pond can have not only practical, but also decorative value: if a mini-waterfall or alpine slide is installed on it, such a pond will become a real decoration of the site.

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

You will learn more about breeding from the video.

What you need to know

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

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

Note: In winter, holes must be made in the ice so that pets do not suffer from lack of oxygen. If you are planning large-scale breeding, it is better to immediately install a water pump or air compressor.

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

Other important breeding points include:

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

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

Peculiarities

Many people think that raising fish in a pond on their property is difficult, but this task is quite simple and can be done by anyone who knows the basic features of cultivation.

It is best to stock fish in an existing, natural reservoir located on the site. If this is not the case, dig the pond yourself. The main feature that will help to equip an artificial pond in the country is the correct selection of the variety.

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

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

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

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

Rules

Breeding fish in a home pond is not a difficult task, but it still requires compliance with certain rules.

The main nuances that should be taken into account are:(Figure 15):

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

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

What conditions should there be for fish in a pond?

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

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

Temperature also plays an important role. Before moving in, you need to equalize the temperature in the pond and in the containers in which the individuals were transported. This will help reduce the risk of developing temperature shock and prevent the death of young individuals in the first day after relocation.

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

How to breed fish in a pond: video

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

How to grow paddlefish in a pond

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

Growing paddlefish is only possible in reservoirs with a good bottom and the ability to supply and pump out water (Figure 16). In fact, ponds in which carp were previously raised are suitable for this species, but it should be borne in mind that in order to obtain enough meat, paddlefish must be kept for several years.

For feeding, they use natural food from reservoirs (zooplankton and phytoplankton). To ensure that paddlefish always have access to a natural food supply, mineral fertilizers must be added to the pond, often in fractional portions. It is important to thoroughly dissolve the fertilizer in the water so that paddlefish do not eat its particles and become poisoned. Superphosphate, lime, potassium permanganate or very high-quality rotted manure after preliminary laboratory testing for chemical composition are suitable for fertilizing a reservoir.

Peculiarities

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

Firstly, you cannot keep fry and adult fish in the same reservoir. If the pond becomes overpopulated, the adults will begin to eat the young ones.

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

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

Rules

In order for paddlefish breeding to be successful, it is necessary to provide the individuals with a good flow of oxygen, since paddlefish are more demanding when it comes to saturating the reservoir with air.

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

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

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

The larvae are fed with small aquatic insects and zooplankton, and it is advisable to feed it in a suspended state. Adult individuals are necessarily weighed during the capture process and only the largest individuals are selected, while the rest are left for caviar production.

Living outside the city is becoming prestigious and comfortable. Potato fields, tomato greenhouses and carrot beds are becoming a thing of the past. People try to make their leisure time more enjoyable and come up with something new. One of the areas of practical and interesting work is fish. At the dacha, it is bred in ponds of various sizes. Making a homemade pond for this purpose is not difficult. However, before you pick up a shovel, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the pitfalls of the process.

Why do they breed fish in their summer cottage?

A pond on a personal plot is created for different purposes: to complement the landscape design, provide water for plants, or organize a place for swimming. Why not use a pond at your dacha for fish farming?

The owner of the site may be the unwitting owner of an inconvenient terrain: a ravine, lowland or drainage ditch. It is not rational to throw all your efforts into eliminating the unevenness. It is easier and cheaper to adapt it for keeping fish. Preparing a pond from scratch is a difficult task, requiring competent calculations and physical effort. High groundwater helps recharge the self-made lake and eliminates waterproofing measures. Such soils are not suitable for growing gardens, and fish in a pond in the country will compensate for this problem.

About fish farming

A serious approach to growing fish on the site brings moral and material satisfaction. The productivity of small ponds is much higher than large ones. A reservoir of 20 to 50 m2 allows you to keep up to 15 species of fish weighing up to 150 c/ha.

Fish in the countryside grows for 1-2 years until it reaches marketable weight. Peled by the end of the first year weighs 70-120 g. Carp during the same period in a warm reservoir with sparse planting reaches 300-350 g. Silver carp are also characterized by a rapid growth rate. But tench and crucian carp will gain comparable weight only in three years. For this reason, they begin to grow them from the age of one year, buying them in fish nurseries.

Advantages of raising fish on site

Growing fish on site is not comparable to industrial production in terms of volumes, methods and conditions. Reservoirs, as a rule, have a multi-purpose purpose. Fish in the country is not grown for the purpose of making huge profits. It serves to create beauty, comfort and peace of mind for the owners of the site.

This is also a sign of prosperity and allows you to stand out from others. Not everyone has a pond with live fish at their dacha. The advantage of this solution is that the quality of the water is under control; pesticides and industrial wastewater will not get into it. A pond at the dacha for fish breeding is a source of healthy and natural food for the family.

For the sake of objectivity in the description, it is worth mentioning that breeding fish in your own pond requires some effort. The owner will need knowledge of fish farming, attentiveness, endurance and love of nature.

The main principles of constructing a reservoir

How to make a lake at your dacha for fish yourself? You should start by studying the basic rules regarding this structure:

• Reservoirs of a small area require more attention because a natural biocenosis does not form in them. They resemble a big puddle. A huge pond will not be affordable for many. In addition, not every site can have a suitable site for it. The golden mean between these options ranges from 25 to 50 m2.
• It is worth choosing the location for the future reservoir carefully. A necessary condition is the presence of shaded and illuminated areas of the water surface. The pond located in the lowland will be subject to flooding by rain and melt water.
• A special relief is created at the bottom of the pond, combining areas with different layers of water. They are arranged in steps, separated by ledges.
• Select the soil based on the type of fish. Carps require hard rocks (pebbles, coarse sand, crushed granite).
• Small fish, no more than 15 cm in length, need 50 liters of water. The volume of the pond and the number of individuals are calculated based on this norm.
• An important addition that a pond needs: raising fish in the country with your own hands is impossible without installing a filter pump. With its help, the water is cleared of secretions and its flowering is prevented.
• If the fish will be in the reservoir all year round, then it needs a wintering well. It can be organized using a large container, which is buried in the center.

Types of fish

The fish is chosen based on the goals that the owner has. And also from the existing pond and other conditions. Decorative fish are widespread: gold and koi. Farming of such species of fish in the country is carried out in small ponds. They stick to the surface and take food from their hands.

For economic purposes, carp, crucian carp and tench, which live in the depths, are bred. The list of species used for keeping in ponds is significant: silver carp, grass carp, perch, carp, trout, etc.

Pond with concrete base

The shape of a pond with a concrete base can be arbitrary. The most optimal are rounded options, for example, oval or pear-shaped. The bottom of the future reservoir is filled with concrete mortar over the prepared cushion. Wire reinforcement will add strength and durability to the structure. A mesh with a mesh side of 15 cm is placed from it. Before concreting, a reinforced concrete pipe is installed, which will serve as a winter hut for fish. Its lower end is buried below the level of winter water in the ground.

DIY concrete pond

Live fish in the country need a cozy home. Stages of manufacturing a pond with a concrete base:

1. The soil is selected according to the drawn up sketch. Terraces and recesses are made. The surface is cleaned of protruding roots and debris. Places are being prepared for aquatic vegetation. A grid of reinforcing bars is laid over the entire surface. They are fastened together with knitting wire. The metal skeleton will be located in the thickness of the concrete.
2. M400 cement, coarse sand and crushed stone are mixed in a ratio of 1:2:3. The resulting mixture is poured into the bottom and compacted thoroughly to prevent the appearance of voids. They wait for it to set and install the formwork for the walls. The side surfaces of the pond should not be vertical, and their thickness should not be less than 12 cm.
3. If possible, make waterproofing. A couple of layers of roofing material are placed on a layer of concrete that has begun to set and filled with mortar. In hot weather, the surface is protected from premature drying with raw material, sawdust or hay.
4. The pond for fish at the dacha is almost ready. A hose is connected to it, hiding it among the stones to give it a natural look. Fill with clean water.
5. A pipe is installed in one of the banks, which will serve as protection against overflow. It will remove excess water from the reservoir.

Pond without lining

If the groundwater on the site is located close to the surface and soil, then you can make a pond without concreting. They create ditches, the walls of which are covered with a layer of clay or plastic film. Such a solution is easy to construct, but requires regular monitoring and supporting measures. A trench dug in sandy soil must be coated with a layer of clay at least 10 cm thick. Turf or straw is placed on top.

Pond from a ravine

How to make a fish pond in your country house without a lot of investment? With my own hands from a small natural ravine. To do this, it is adjusted and improved. They operate approximately according to this scheme:

• The natural depression is increased in size.
• They create a dam from the earth. To do this, the soil is poured in thin layers (up to 20 cm) and compacted. Humidification from a watering can improves the quality of work. The height of the partition is created 50 cm above the expected water level.
• They will create a ditch through which flood waters can pass without destroying the dam. The bypass channel is placed around the earthen partition.
• Concrete gutters are sometimes placed in the ditches through which water flows in and out. The bottom and inclined parts of the pond are optionally reinforced with metal mesh, stones, turf, etc. The dam is made wide and covered with a layer of sand.
• The filled pond is kept empty for 1-2 months. During this time, a silt deposit will form in it, and the plants will take root. After this period, the reservoir is emptied and clean water is poured. Only now can fish be allowed into the pond.

Setting up your own pond at your summer cottage is not an easy task. The information provided will help owners better navigate this issue and avoid many mistakes. Proper organization of feeding and keeping fish is the key to success.

The only thing better than your own pond at the dacha is your own stocked pond at the dacha! Fishing at any convenient time and in any weather, caught fed and ecological fish - what could be better for an avid fisherman?

Correct dimensions of a fish pond

Of course, first of all you may need a home fish pond. Therefore, you first need to decide on its location. The best option would be a low, semi-shaded place. There is no need to plant trees specifically; their roots can deform the pond, and the leaves, attacking and starting to rot, will ultimately ruin it.

Now about the dimensions. The depth required is at least one meter, but ideally it all depends on the species of fish that are planned to be bred in it. Small is better. but the deep one is better than the wide and shallow option; the second one will absorb too much oxygen, which is necessary for fish to breathe.

In winter, to provide the fish with oxygen, it will be convenient to freeze a bunch of straw directly in it; through its hollow tubes, oxygen will perfectly reach the depths of the pond. Small holes drilled in the ice will also enrich the water with oxygen.

Also, take into account not only the size of the fish, but also their number, so that they do not become crowded in a small pond, because one fish 10 cm long needs 50 liters of water. A large amount of food, some of which will probably remain uneaten, can contribute to water spoilage.

It is easier for fish to winter in a deep reservoir without fear of it freezing through. BUT! On hot summer days, the layers of water will warm up unevenly, which will slow down the reproduction of microorganisms that are also needed as food for fish. Also take into account the clear area of ​​the water surface without vegetation, and the method of filtering the water.

Popular fish breeds for artificial ponds

Here it is also worth talking about what kind of fish is best to breed in a small pond. Carp and crucian carp are the leaders in popularity for breeding in artificial ponds. Next behind them are tench, goldfish and cold water trout.

Carp will not be at all cramped in small reservoirs; oddly enough, they even grow fatter there. In a small space you can’t run around too much, but they feed you regularly and well. This contributes to active weight gain. This is an unpretentious and omnivorous fish; it is especially happy with the sun and slightly alkaline water. She will then grow rapidly and reach sexual maturity by the fourth year of her life.

So, for carp you need a reservoir from one and a half meters deep, four meters long, and six meters wide. There are no more than twenty individuals per cubic meter of water. Then you will be guaranteed an excellent bite from fat carp!

Now about crucian carp. For them, simply grace is stagnant water with an abundance of different vegetation. The size of the reservoir favorable for them coincides with the size for carp, so it will be easy to keep them in the same pond. In this case, do not forget to take care of holes in the ice in winter to provide oxygen to so many fish.

But tench cannot tolerate crucian carp. And in a shallow pond it will fight with carps for food. Although they are also an unpretentious and omnivorous breed.

Goldfish, despite their noble name, are actually unpretentious to both food and living conditions. From just one pair of these individuals, the pond will be populated with many goldfish very, very quickly. Imagine a pond teeming with shiny goldfish. You'll just run out of wishes, but you won't run out of fish!

Japanese koi carps turn out to be just as shiny, and it is impossible to predict the color of the offspring based on their parents. Another voracious breed. Therefore, they respect spacious and deep reservoirs, the muddy bottom of which can be searched for a long time, looking for food. By the way, they also eat small fish.

So, let's get down to building a pond.

Here we are talking about how to raise fish in your home pond. But first you should build the pond itself. Once you have decided on the desired dimensions, we begin digging the pit. Its bottom needs to be compacted properly. Then it is advisable to cement it and cover it with plastic film on top. With careful use it will last for several years. If this is an expensive option for your wallet, then simply cover the bottom of the future pond with film. Also, as a budget option, consider leaving a lot of unusable tires glued together at the bottom.

If funds allow you, you can buy special coconut or synthetic mats. Algae grow very quickly on their surface and the coastal edge will become reliably camouflaged.

Now that the pit is completed and processed, you can fill it with water. And not immediately to the brim, but first by one third, and preferably with well or spring water. And with such gradual filling, the film will have time to level out. We pour a layer of river sand on the bottom, where we plant various algae. Now let’s add water to the end.

Finally, we are engaged in landscaping the shore. Add cattails, reeds and willow to the pond landscape. If the reservoir was also planned for breeding crayfish, then it is simply necessary to have stones, broken pots, and so on at its bottom as shelters for them.

Microclimate of your pond

So, the water is filled. But under no circumstances should you put fish in there right away! First you need to let it settle and warm up. You can fill a bucket of water from a natural reservoir to populate the microflora.

A neutral environment with an acidity level of 7 - 8 ph is considered the best conditions. If the acidity drops to 5, then you urgently need to acidify the water with soda or limestone. Therefore, you should not forget about measuring acidity in different places of the pond, because it depends on the rate of interaction of substances with the sun.

And before releasing fish into the pond, it is necessary to balance the temperatures in the pond and in the container where the fish were kept all the time, in order to prevent them from experiencing a temperature shock, which even adults may not tolerate.

Best fish food

You were able to learn about what kind of fish to breed in a pond at your dacha. Now it’s worth finding out what food to use to ensure that your fish eats and grows well in the pond. For carp and tench the question is unimportant; they will gratefully absorb everything that their owner gives them. They are usually fed simple poultry or pig feed. If it is presented as a powder, then you will need to mix it with pond water to form a porridge.

Other fish respect a mixture of cereals and legumes. It must be scalded before feeding for better swelling. Well, no fish will ever deny itself the pleasure of eating earthworms or some kind of insects. The amount of food can exceed the weight of the fish, but not more than 6 percent.

Usually the fish are fed twice a day, always in the same place. The best place for this is a shallow place where you can place a tray of treats directly into the water and then remove it. This will eliminate the presence of possible food residues in the water, which will quickly spoil the water.

Let's sum it up

Now you know how to raise fish in a dug pond. Who will say that fish cannot be trained? Try feeding them in the same place at the same time and see what happens! And if you also accustom them to the sound of a bell before feeding, then your fish will become like obedient students getting ready for a lesson when the bell rings.

Such a pond can be used not only for your pleasure, but also as a source of income. After all, you can not only sell surplus farmed fish, but also rent out the pond for fishing on an hourly basis. Or maybe you’ll come up with something else!

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.

Suitable fish species for pond farming

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 considered:

• Carp or carp- thermophilic, 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.
• White amur- 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- similar to carp, native 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 breeding is the opportunity to obtain for personal consumption or sell products that are in great demand 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. Excess is removed by a drain 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 - small 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.

Scheme for making a fish breeding pool

Required tools and materials

The most durable is a pond 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. Digging a pit by hand or using an excavator. The optimal depth is 1.5-1.8 m, wall angles 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.

Schematic structure of a fish pond

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 the 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.

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

The best types of fish for a small pond

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

• Carp. An ideal option for a compact pond: it is completely unpretentious in food and living conditions. At the same time, it has excellent taste and nutritional value. Carp is heat-loving and the decision to breed fish like this should be made only when living in a fairly warm climate: the optimal temperature for a comfortable life for carp is 18-30 degrees Celsius. The period of onset of sexual maturity directly depends on the mildness of the climate: in a warm climate, already in the 2-3rd year of life, the carp is ready to mate, in a cold climate - in the 4-5th year. Carp grows quickly and reaches a weight of 1 kg by the age of three.
• Golden crucian carp. A small beardless fish with a copper belly. The best option for breeding fish in a small standing pond. Crucian carp is unpretentious and survives well in water with high acidity or insufficient oxygen. Sexual maturity of crucian carp occurs at 2-4 years. The advantages of golden crucian carp include its vitality and excellent survival rate after crossing with other fish.

Lena sturgeon

• Peled. It grows quickly and is unpretentious to housing and feeding conditions. Feels great in cool water. It is considered a good alternative to trout, and, unlike the latter, peled is not so demanding on the composition of the water and its oxygen content.
• Tench. An unusual fish that changes color immediately after being caught: its golden skin becomes covered with dark spots. This happens due to a large amount of mucus, which hardens in the air. A great place to fish would be a calm, small body of water with plenty of vegetation.
• Som. Perfect for a small pond. The catfish is carnivorous, large in size, and very hardy. In winter it hibernates. Friendly towards other freshwater fish.

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

The subtleties of fish breeding in a small pond

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

Advice. It is not advisable to place fish caught from the river into a pond created by painstaking efforts, since it may be sick. It is better to purchase all the necessary types of animals in a specialized store.

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

How to breed crucian carp: video

This article is intended for people who want to build a quality fish farming business.
The fishing business has been a successful and most profitable type of business for many years, based on growing fish in artificial reservoirs.

On store shelves you can find quite a lot of fish products not only from large companies, but also from farm production from small enterprises. Methods of breeding fish in small bodies of water save time. Three hours a day will be enough to have an idea and the necessary information on fish breeding.

Fishing business. Which fish to choose?

Before you start promoting your vision of the “fishing business,” you should decide how to raise fish more profitably. To begin with, I would like to note that the following are suitable for your artificial reservoir: crucian carp, silver carp, carp, sturgeon, pike perch, carp, trout and many others. Based on considerations, the most purchased types of fish are carp or trout.

Ask why? These are the only fish that grow quickly and are in demand. The method of work to promote the fishing idea will depend entirely on this choice.

As for growing, it’s easier with carp. Carp is a tenacious fish; it easily lives in almost any body of water. And you don’t need to graduate from any fish breeding academy, you just need to look through the relevant literature.

With trout breeding, things are worse, since its stable and correct breeding can only be carried out by a specialist fish farmer. And this, as everyone understands, is another expense. But without experience, breeding trout is a disastrous business.

Equipment and structure of the reservoir

The location of the reservoir should be chosen so that in the summer from dawn to 10 am it is illuminated by the sun, and from 11 am to 3 pm it is not scary if it hides in partial shade. Such a place is very difficult to find. Only natural ponds and lakes have such a location, and then in the wild. It is worth noting that in order to grow fish, the pond and pool must be in the sun for at least 5 hours a day.

Equipment

Today, a popular place for fish breeding is the swimming pool. If possible, it is better to purchase it. If you build a pool yourself, you will have to spend a lot of time and money on installing a closed water supply (UVS). The budget option is considered to be the construction of a pond. It is easier to build an artificial pond in a round or oval shape. The depth of the reservoir should not be less than 150 cm. The banks are made flat at an angle of 20-25 degrees. The depth of the reservoir must correspond to its size, but be no less than 70 cm. The banks are made flat (20–25°).

For your information, if the depth of the reservoir is more than 80 cm, then the banks should be made with ledges, otherwise they will slide.

Device

Don't focus on the sophistication of the pond. It should be remembered that its main purpose is to keep fish.

In most cases, the bottom of the pond is simply concreted. The average price for such services is about 20 thousand rubles. Also, for the construction of such ponds it will be necessary to obtain permission from the administrative authorities.

Here are some tips for building a pond:

• Small ponds will need to be constantly cleaned, while large ones will require large financial expenses. Based on the above, ponds measuring 40 square meters are considered the optimal size. meters;
• One part of the pond should be in the shade. Do not forget that in the spring during the rains, so that the pond does not flood, it should be built in low-lying areas;
• The bottom topography should alternate from shallow water to deep-water areas to rapids and ledges of various sizes.

Optional equipment

Now we will analyze the equipment necessary for fish breeding. A gravity biofilter is a device for water purification. This is an attachment that can be installed in minutes. The cost of this device is 5 thousand rubles. To prevent the fish from dying from water blooms or simply suffocating, special compressors should be used. The cost of the compressor is 10 thousand rubles. To prevent excessive blooming of water, ultraviolet sterilizers are used. Water is supplied to the reservoir using a hydraulic pump (cost 25 thousand rubles). Fish feeders and other small equipment can be found in specialized stores. Forget about draining the pond water in advance.

Purchase of fry

For breeding, first of all, fry are purchased. The quantity of fry purchased depends on the reservoir. Do not forget that the fry grows almost 8 times in one season. About 10 percent of purchased fry die during the growth process. Entrepreneurs who have been in this business for several days advise raising fry on their own, that is, growing them from larvae (fertilized eggs). Yes, this method is easy and cheap, but it requires both knowledge and experience.

It is better for aspiring businessmen to start their business starting from the fry. The fry should be fed every 12 hours. It is wise to use automated feeding systems. They will feed the pond on a schedule.

Fish food - choice

Now let's talk about the type of feed. In general, feed is sold in several types:

• Starter (for fry);
• Productive (as a gainer for humans, that is, building mass);
• Productive (before spawning);
• Pigmented (gives salmon meat an orange tint).

If you build an open reservoir, it freezes in the winter. The life processes of fish under ice are slowed down, so you should not feed them. Only in summer, spring and autumn. If the pond is located in a warm environment, even in winter, then the fish should be fed, but by significantly reducing the average dose. In order to understand how much food is needed to feed the fry, companies provide special tables. The amount of food required for fry depends on the average weight of the individual and the temperature of the reservoir.

Caring for fry in the pond

Some tips when feeding fish:

• in summer, at temperatures above 25 degrees, you should reduce the usual dose of food volume;
• the daily amount of feed required for consumption by fry should be divided into two stages;
• You should not overfeed your fish. Nothing good will come of this. Only toxic substances from decomposing uneaten food;
• You should also monitor the health of the fry.

Quite common fish diseases: rubella, fungal infections, gill necrosis. Epidemics should not be allowed, as they can destroy the entire livestock. In order to avoid this, you should constantly change the water in the reservoir. Please note that when purchasing fry, you should ask the seller for a veterinary certificate to ensure that they are selling healthy fry and the material in general. The fry should be monitored for diseases every 2 months.

Where to sell the products?

In order to sell your products, you should acquire your own fleet of vehicles, that is, a machine for transporting fish to supermarkets, hypermarkets, and shops. After all, live fish must be in excellent condition, otherwise they will simply be returned back.

To avoid problems, ensure that the tank has a constant temperature and good ventilation. The product can also be sold to wholesalers, as well as private entrepreneurs who have fish retail outlets.

Seasonality and difficulties of doing business

Difficulties that an entrepreneur may encounter:

• Due to the fact that fish in winter are slowed down both in growth and development, one should take into account the fact that in winter profits will clearly decrease. An open body of water usually freezes;
• When selling a product, several nuances also arise. When selling live fish, the maintenance of the fish rests entirely with the staff of the outlet. Not all sellers decide to do this. There is also a constant delay in revenue. The fact is that the store or retail outlet expects to repay the debt to the entrepreneur after they sell the goods. Sometimes this can last more than a month;
  fish epidemics. Can destroy the entire livestock.

The profit of such a business

The optimal profitability is considered to be 9 percent, if we talk about the first year in the entrepreneurial field.

In the future, the percentage of profits will only grow with the right approach to business. Even according to expert calculations, maintaining a fishery is much more profitable than a large enterprise. Nowadays we can say that this business is very in demand. When growing fish, do not forget about starting the production of expensive black caviar.

Costs of running your business

In this chapter we will present the average cost of installing a pond or swimming pool. Construction of a swimming pool will cost 250,000 rubles, and a pond - 200,000 rubles. Additional equipment: separately RAS – 150,000, ventilation device – 60,000 RUR, hydraulic pump – 25,000 RUR, feeders and small accessories – 20,000 RUR. The price for fry is 10,000-20,000 rubles. To purchase food for a year and a half - 100,000 rubles, that is, about 6,000 rubles. per month.

Undoubtedly, the first year of arrangement is considered very expensive. Ultimately, the total amount will be 500 thousand rubles. this amount did not take into account hired workers, if any. But don’t be upset, such costs will quickly pay off within a couple of years after starting this type of business activity.

Also, if the amount is large, then you can try your luck and apply for a subsidy for fishing from the state. For your information. If breeding is planned not in a pool, but in a pond, then you can benefit from this, and financially - paid fishing.

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