Fish farming is growing rapidly in India, offering great opportunities for farmers to increase their income. However, managing feed efficiently is a big challenge, as feed costs is nearly 70% of the total production expenses. Proper feed management reduces feed costs and ensures the health and growth of fish. Avoid common mistakes like overfeeding, using incorrect feed sizes or neglecting water quality. Here’s a practical guide with 7 steps to help you master feed management.
Fish farming is growing rapidly in India, offering great opportunities for farmers to increase their income. However, managing feed efficiently is a big challenge, as feed costs is nearly 70% of the total production expenses. Proper feed management reduces feed costs and ensures the health and growth of fish. Avoid common mistakes like overfeeding, using incorrect feed sizes or neglecting water quality. Here’s a practical guide with 7 steps to help you master feed management.
Step 1. Adjust Feed Based on Fish Weight
Feeding fish according to their body weight is the most basic but crucial rule. For example,
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- Fish under 10 grams: Feed them 8–10% of their body weight daily,
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- Fish weighing between 50–100 grams: Reduce this to 4–6% of their body weight daily,
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- Fish over 100 grams: 2–3% of their body weight is sufficient of their body weight daily,
Step 2. Match Feed Size to Fish Growth Stage
Pellet size matters a lot for proper feeding. Different growth stages require different sizes.
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- Small fry and fingerlings need smaller pellets (0.8mm–1mm).
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- Medium-sized fish (10–50 grams) do well with 2mm–3mm pellets.
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- Larger fish require 4mm pellets for effective consumption.
Feeding fish with the wrong pellet size can lead to feed rejection or even choking risk. Always ensure that the feed size matches your fish growth stage.
Step 3. Maintain Proper Protein Levels in Feed
Protein plays a major role in fish growth, but the protein requirement decreases as fish grow.
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- For fish under 50 grams: Use feed with 28–32% protein.
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- For fish between 50–100 grams: Use for feed with 24–28% protein.
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- For100gm+ fish: 20–24% protein is sufficient.
Using high-protein feed unnecessarily increases costs as well as raises ammonia levels in the water, which can harm fish health and can impact growth.
Step 4. Feed at Regular Intervals
Feeding frequency impacts both fish health and feed efficiency. Younger fish need to be fed more frequently.
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- Fry and fingerlings: Feed them 5–7 times a day.
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- Medium-sized 50 to 100gm fish: Feed them 3–4 times a day.
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- 100gm+ fish: 2–3 feedings daily are enough.
Feeding in multiple intervals helps in better digestion and avoids wastage. Consistency is important to ensure uniform growth.
Step 5. Keep Records for FCR Tracking
Maintaining proper records of feed usage is critical for calculating the Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), which measures feed efficiency. The formula is simple:
FCR=Feed Used (kg) / Fish Weight Gain (kg)
Why is this important?
FCR helps to understand whether feed management is effective or needs improvement. Here’s how you can manage it,
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- Record daily feed quantities in a notebook or spreadsheet.
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- Regularly monitor fish growth through sampling after every 15-20 days
Accurate record keeping gives insights into feeding efficiency and helps fish farmer save costs in the long run.
Step 6. Spread Feed Evenly in the Pond
Feeding fish at a single spot often leads to uneven growth. Stronger fish dominate the feeding area, leaving weaker ones undernourished. To solve this,
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- Spread feed evenly across the pond in multiple locations.
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- Use methods like broadcasting to ensure all fish get access to feed.
This practice ensures consistent growth and minimizes competition among fish.
Step 7. Monitor Water Quality Regularly
Feed directly affects water quality, especially when overused. High protein feed can increase ammonia and nitrogen levels in the pond, harming fish. To avoid this,
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- Test water regularly for pH, ammonia and dissolved oxygen levels.
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- Gradually reduce protein content as fish grow to maintain a healthy pond environment.
Maintaining water quality not only keeps your fish healthy but also reduces the risk of diseases.
By following above given 7 steps, you can optimize your feeding process, improve fish health and increase your farm’s profitability. Start implementing these practices today and see the difference they make on your farm. If you have questions or need help choosing the right feed for your fish, reach out to us in the comments or click here.