FISH FARMING

                                           Fish farming

Fish farming or fishery is the culturing, raising or rearing of fish in a controlled environment for food or other useful purposes.

Controlled environment could be a man-made water body such as a pond, or an enclosed section of a natural water body.

Aquaculture is one of the branches of agriculture. The growing of plants and animals on land for food and other products is agriculture, while raising animals and plants in water is aquaculture.

Fish can be classified based on their habitat and morphology.

1.     Classification based on their habitat and morphology: There are two types of water habitats where fish are found. These are fresh water and salt water.

a.     Fresh water habitat: this refers to water which has no salt. Such water is found in rivers, ponds and lakes. Fishes found in such habitats include tilapia, electric fish, mudfish, carp, trout and moon fish.

b.     Salt Water Habitat: This refers to water body with salt taste. Such water is found in the sea and ocean. The fishes in this type of habitat include the shark, mackerel, sardine, cod (stock fish), skipjack and cottle fish.

2. Classification based on morphology: morphology refers to the form or structure of the fish. We have bony fishes and cartilaginous fishes.

a. Bony fishes: They are those that possess hard bone. Examples are tilapia, mud fish, catfish salmon and cart

b. Cartilaginous fish: they are those that possess soft bones. Examples are ray, shark and dogfish.

As Nigeria grows massively in population and government placing restrictions on importation of more and more agricultural products, paying attention to the agriculture business is our next gold. Fish farming is one of the various business opportunities any business minded Nigerians can look into.

Everywhere in the world, worldwide, the most common fish species used in fish farming are carp, salmon, tilapia and cat fish. While the last two, tilapia and cat fish are the most common species raise in Nigeria. Tilapia taste great and is one of the easiest fish to raise. It tolerates a wide variety of water conditions, including low oxygen levels and is resistant to diseases and parasite. Tilapia grows quickly under proper conditions.

Cat fish has an exceptional taste and it is resistant to disease and parasite.

Catfish grows quickly; a large fingerling can reach on pound within 5months

How to start home based fish farming business

First thing you will need to start a home based fish farming business is some basic knowledge about raising fish. To raise fish you will need some space in your backyard for digging a fish pond or space in your basement or anywhere else, if you want to raise fish in containers. Fish can be raised in any kind of fish tanks, containers, and tub.

One will need some basic knowledge about fish, so one needs to get as much knowledge as one possibly can about fish farming. The more knowledge you have the better chances you will have to succeed in your home based fish farming business.

Choose water from a reliable source, it could be well, borehole, or your municipal supply water will be fine. Once you have your pond or container, get your juvenile fish from a hatchery near you. Make sure you feed your fish with appropriate proper diet and take care of your pond and fish tank.

                

    There are three means of food for your fish:

1. Natural food: this is found naturally in the pond. This include; plankton, worms, and insect.

2. Supplementary feed: this includes kitchen waste or agricultural by-product.

          3.Complete feed: this is a carefully made fish feed, it is made by the experts who understand the perfect formula for the fish at a different stage.

In conclusion, one needs some basic knowledge about fish, so one needs to get as much knowledge as one possibly can about fish farming. The more knowledge you have the better chances you will have to succeed in your home based fish farming business.