Siva Prasad Divisional Manager West Bengal

Best Management Practices

Walking catfish
Scientific classification Kingdom: Phylum: Class: Order: Family: Genus: Species: Animalia Chordata Actinopterygii Siluriformes Clariidae Clarias C. batrachus Binomial name Clarias batrachus
Linnaeus, 1758

Synonyms

Clarias assamensis; Clarias punctatus Silurus batrachus

Fresh Water - Air Breathers Scale Less Covered with mucus Prefer Water Temp: 10 28o C Voracious eater and Omnivorous Supports in High population densities

No Sandy Soils Ideal Pond Size: < 4000 m2 Depth: Range of 1.5 2.0 m Dyke: Should not more slope
Avoid escapism
Lime Application Initial Fertilization
Manures/Fertilizers
Chicken manure (dry) or Cow dung

Soil pH 4.04.9 5.06.4 6.57.4 7.58.4 8.59.5

Soil Type Highly acidic Moderately acidic Near neutral Mildly alkaline Highly alkaline

Quantity of lime (CaCO3) (Kg / ha) 270 140 70 30 No liming

Quantity (kg/ha)
250 400 20 7

*Urea *Triple Super

Phosphate

* In case of Magur monoculture half the quantity of Urea and TSP may be enough.

Day Day 12

Activities Dewatering/poisoning

Day 23
Day 56 Day 69 Day 1213

Liming the pond bottom

Manuring the pond Filling of pond with water Bottom racking

Day 1415

Stocking of fingerling

Note: If the pond is not poisoned, fingerlings can be stocked on 10 12th day

Starve the seed 24 hrs before transport Transport early hrs Minimize the sunlight exposure Transport time should be < 10 hrs Seed health management during transport
Siphon & Exchange water (if > 6 hrs travel) Apply salt at 5 ppt (5kg/m3),every 6 hrs travel.

BMPs Seed stock

Avoid sudden/ immediate seed stock pH and Temp. should be same (pond & container )
Salt can be used as a disinfectant Do not feed on stocking day Feeding very low level in first four days Increase after 4 days gradually

Seed Stocking
Suitable Size: Two weeks old seeds Activity: Vertically Swim (Special behavior gulp air) Sizes : 2 3 cm; Weight: 1 5 gm/ individual Equal Sizes Stock: Avoid Cannibalism Proper Health Check up:
Healthy Fingerlings Quick Moving and Escaping Fast moving up and Down Un broken barbels & Fins Dark grey color with mucus No external diseases & Parasites Barbels and fins broken Big white grey spots without mucus Skin Lesions & wounds Un healthy Fingerlings Weak responses during disturbances

Behavioral observation of Stocks

Daily basis / especially at feeding times
Are the fishes feeding normally Is the most of fish coming to the feed Abnormal Behavior
Congregated together in a corner Pond with out any movement Not responding feed or any stimuli Group of fish surfacing more than average

This all reaction due to poor water quality

BMPs Hazards of Catfish Farming

Oxygen Deficiency
No Problem Control use of organic manures & Supp. Feeds

Organic Overloading
Cause Bacterial diseases Over feeding in winter time

Cannibalism
Cant Prevent but can decrease Feed frequently Stock equal sizes Spread the feed entire pond Separate bigger ones

Maintain schedule for intake/exchange Use filter /screen Limited water exchange initially Frequent exchange latter on Exchange bottom water in heavy raining time In diseased pond
Limit/stop the water exchange Inform nearby farms

Optimum Water Quality Parameters

Parameters O2 Advanced fry (Tolerance) 35 ppm Fingerlings/adults >3 ppm

Temperature
NH3-N NO2-N NO3-N pH CO2-C Salinity

opt. 30C
0.1 ppm (1.0 ppm) 0.5 ppm 100 ppm 69 6 ppm (1015 ppm) 10 ppt. (1516 ppt)

opt. 2628C

In winter months (mid December to mid February) when water temperature goes below 20C; the appetite and growth of magur are reduced.

Water Quality Management

If provided large amount of feed
Check water parameters (pH & NH3 ) Apply BKC or Iodine Apply Probiotics (soil or water) Record the changes

In diseased pond
Limit/stop the water exchange Inform nearby farms

Feeding & Feed Management

Feed Types
Day 1 50 gm range 50 gm 300 gm range 300 gm - > 1 kg range

Crude Protein level

30 % - 35 % ranges CP level is nothing but utilisability of feed is another

Feeding & Feed Management

Reduce feed and test the fishes Dissect and observe a few fishes
Color of inner layer Broken Skull Diseases Swollen Liver Excess fat Yellow body color Jaundiced Condition
Due to nutrient deficiency (not due to bact. /viral infection) Antibiotics treatment is ineffective

Nutritionally inadequate Feed

Symptoms
Poor growth & mortality Broken Skull Diseases Swollen & Pale liver Yellowing belly and Fin bases

 Vary from farm to farm throughout crop 10 % initial stock mortality occurs (small sizes) Diseases & Mortality due to
Poor/sudden weather condition Poor water quality Imbalanced feed Rough handlings

Disease Factors & Management

Environment Factors:
Weather Changes (temperature drop; too much rain) Water level fluctuation (water color changes)

Abnormal Fish Behavior:

Loss of appetite Sudden jump up Congregate in corner and group Abnormal Swimming (Staying vertical position at surface) Infected barbels Spots on body surface Pop - eye

 Columnaris:
Symptoms:
Fish remain at vertical position Big white spot lesions Fins are broken

Treatments:
Antibiotics: Chloramphenicol, Terramycin or Oxytetracycline can be added to the feed. Dose : 5 to 7.5 g/100 kg fish/day for 510 days.

Bacterial Diseases
Hemorrhagic septicemia
Symptoms:
Shallow ulceration & Swollen abdomen Body cavity filled with water Pale liver

Treatments:
Water change and check of feed quality. Terramycin (oxytetracycline) Dose: 7.5 g/100 kg body weight/day for 1012 days Furazolidone Dose: 57.5 g/100 kg body weight/day for 23 weeks. Pond treatment with 3 5 ppm of Potassium Permanganate.

Fungal disease
The disease develops mainly in winter period.

Saprolegniasis
Symptoms:
Skin ulceration & Fin erosion Exposure of muscles & Jaw bones White hair like out growth

Treatments:
Dip treatment Dose: 3% common salt solution for 2030 minutes (OR) Bath in 0.1 ppm Malachite Green..

Diseases due to malnutrition

The disease is particularly prevalent in Magur larger than 10 cm.

Broken Skull Diseases

Symptoms:
Knocking on the skull - Hallow sound Delayed calcification

Treatments:
The supply of feed should be stopped for a few days and preferably be replaced by fresh and vitamin C added feed.

Disease Prevention
Ensure the feed and its quality Monitor water quality on a regular basis Treat water with salt and lime
if severe weather changes

Use disinfectant cautiously (Monthly once) Do not discharge water in to a common source Do not use chemicals/antibiotics without understanding of diseases. Burry the dead fishes with lime in a fixed place

Diseases & Types

Thanks for Your Attention

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