Culture of Angelfish in Net Cages

Bypinoyentre

Jan 19, 2012

Culture of Angelfish in Net CagesAngelfish is a freshwater ornamental fish with laterally compressed round body and elongated triangular shaped dorsal and anal fins. The genus name of the angelfish, ‘Pterophyllum’, roughly translated from the Greek language, means ‘winged leaf’, relating to its tall, laterally compressed shape, and gliding motion. It is a piscivorous species that prey on small fish and other macro-invertebrates. It is a hardy species and can attain a maximum size of 12-15cm in length. It is one of the species with high demand in the local and foreign markets.

METHODOLOGY

1. Construction of Net Cages

  • Construct 20 units of 1m X 3m net cages.

2. Pond Preparation

  • Drain the pond.
  • Level the pond bottom and dry for 5 days.
  • Apply fertilizer (chicken manure) at a rate of 1,500kg/ha or 150 grams/m2.
  • Fill the pond with water up to one meter depth after five (5) days of fertilization.

3. Installation of Cages

  • Install net cages in the pond by tying the top and bottom sides in the G.I. pipes.

4. Stocking

  • Measure and weigh angelfish fingerlings before stocking.
  • Stock the fish in cages early in the morning at 40 pcs/m2.

FEEDING

Feed  angelfish with commercial feeds (P02) twice daily by broadcast method at the following rates:

Culture period (mo.)          Feeding Rate (% body weight)
1st                                                                              10
2nd                                                                              5
3rd                                                                               3

Formula for Daily Feeding Ration

Daily Feed Ration (DFR) = ABW x N x FR
Where: ABW = ave. body wt. of fish
N = total no. of fish
FR = Feeding rate or percent body weight

Example:
for 120 pcs angelfish with an average wt. of 2g @ 10% FR
DFR = 2g x 120 x 10%
DFR = 24g

Water Management

  • Change 20% of the water volume weekly.
  • Maintain the following water quality parameters:

pH                                               7.8
dissolved oxygen                3-5mg/L
temperature                         25-30 ºC

Monthly Evaluation of Stocks

  • Weigh at least 10 pcs. angelfish for feed adjustment purposes.

HARVESTING

  • Harvest angelfish after three months of culture. This should be done early in the morning to avoid stress in the fish.
  • Record the number of stocks.
  • Condition the fish in tanks for marketing.

For more information, please contact:

BFAR Region 4A
REGIONAL FISHERIES RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER
Freshwater Fisheries Research Station
Bambang, Los Baños, Laguna
Tel: (049) 544-8183 / (049) 527-1266 / (049) 527-1267
Email: [email protected]
Facebook Page (This link will open on a new window)

Sources: BFAR, trc.dost.gov.ph; Photo: en.wikipedia.org

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