How to Improve the Survival of African Catfish Larvae

The African catfish is a robust and fast-growing fish. These hardy fish tolerate various food items and are resistant to poor and fluctuating water conditions. Farmers typically induce breeding in this species artificially with hormone injection into ripe females. Spawning typically occurs the following evening after the breeder has placed the females and males together. The breeder removes both parents after the female has laid eggs. The larvae of African catfish develop into fingerlings after a three- to four-week period but require dedicated care during their first month of life.

Things You'll Need

  • Agricultural lime or quicklime
  • Cow or sheep manure
  • Wheat bran
  • Rice
  • Formulated fish meal
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Instructions

    • 1

      Drain and remove silt from the bottom of the nursery pond in preparation for transferring the larvae. Leave the pond to dry for one or two days to destroy any amphibian larvae water insects and catfish fingerlings, all of which will eat the newly hatched larvae.

    • 2

      Sprinkle a thin layer of agricultural or quicklime over the bottom of the dry pond. These lime products increases the pH, alkalinity and general pond productivity by supplying minerals.

    • 3

      Add approximately 110 lbs. of organic fertilizer, such as cow or sheep manure, for every 120 square yards of pond surface seven days before adding the catfish larvae. For best results, dissolve the fertilizer before spreading it over the surface of the water. The fertilizer creates a zooplankton bloom, on which the growing larvae feed.

    • 4

      Observe the catfish larvae as they hatch from their eggs and sink to the bottom of the spawning container. The adhesive eggs will stick to whatever spawning material you use, such as mosquito netting, spawning mops or living aquatic plants. The eggshells remain secured to the spawning material and, in this way, separate from the larvae upon removal of the material.

      Avoid exposing the spawning containers to direct sunlight at this point, as newly hatched larvae prefer to stay in dark places. You do not need to feed the larvae at this stage, as they survive from the nutrients contained in their yolk sac.

    • 5

      Wait for three to four days, at which time the larvae will have adsorbed their yolk sac, then transfer them to the "nursing" pond. At this stage, the tiny catfish resemble adults in their body shape. Stock the nursery ponds at the rate of 100 larvae per 120 square yards.

    • 6

      Supplement the larvae's diet with wheat bran and rice as soon as they are in the nursery ponds. Feed approximately 1.5 lbs. of this diet per 120 square yards. Add a formulated fish meal to the bran and rice diet as well. During the first week, feed about 1 lb. of meal per 120 square yards each day. Feed 1.5 lbs. of food during the second week. Add 2.25 lbs. of food during week three. Offer the larvae 1.75 lbs. during their fourth week and 3.5 lbs. during week five.