Fish Farming

Let’s take a look at fish farming and what it entails to start and own a successful one.

Fish farming is known as pisciculture in the academic world.
Its a major form of aquaculture, farming of aquatic organisms like fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants. (Forgive me please, if you hate all these academic terminologies)
Fish farming involves raising fish commercially in ponds, tanks or enclosures.
There are hundreds of species of fish among which are; sea trout, cyprinids, pangas catfish, freshwater fishes, silver seabream, common carp, catla, greasy grouper, bighead carp, Nile tilapia, grass carp (who knows, maybe there are thousands more?).
But most of them are not suitable for fish farming in Nigeria, either because of their nature or because of the low demand in the fish market or the profitability of their species.
That’s why the most common fish species fish farmers grow for commercial purpose are carp, salmon, tilapia and catfish (while the last two, catfish and tilapia is the most common species in Nigeria fish farming industry)
Fish can be grown in two ways: extensive aquaculture where fish grow under natural water (i.e. river or stream).
Then, intensive aquaculture where fish are fed with external food supply… this is the area were focusing on in this tutorial because this is what it means to get involved in fish farming
*What Are The Cost and Materials Needed to Start Fish Farming in Nigeria?*
I know youre interested in knowing about this, but I’m sad to say that there is no straight answer, and estimate is even risky.
Why?
First, because situations and environments differ.
How do you expect the cost of land to build pond (for example) in Lagos to be the same with that of Ekiti?
How do you expect the cost of labour in Imo to be the same with the cost of labour in Kano?
Even some other things (like fish feeds) you might expect to be of the same price are not, even in the same city.
Second reason why it may be foolish to state that you need xxx naira to start fish farming business is because things change very fast
Thats why I will not tell you that you need xxx naira, instead, I will try and show you what and what you`ll need.

[25/08 8:47 pm] Ugochi: How to Start a profitable fish business. 

Get a good location for your farm.

Get a good source of water.

Choose the appropriate fish pond.

Decide the right species of fish for you.

Get healthy fingernails or juveniles.

Understand fish feeds & feeding.

Get good and practical fish farming training.

Start Marketing your fish before they grow-up.

Be business minded.

Get a good Location for your fish farm. You need to first decide whether you’re starting your fish business small or going big.If you’re starting small, you may decide to start at your background but if you’re going big, you may need to buy or rent one or few fish ponds outside your home. 
Good source of water for your fish.

How important is water to a fish? Just as oxygen is important to you.
Take a fish out of water and it becomes helpless and dies.
Put it in a bad water and youre affecting its growth and productivity (though “bad” water varies, depending on the kind of fish we are talking about. Some fish live in rough water while others cannot).
My point here is, youll need good source of water for your fish.
How much will the water be?
Here is a question you alone can answer. I know a man few years ago who had his fish farm at the back of his house.
He can easily use the well of his house to satisfy these few fish, how can a man with huge earthen fish pond do this?
The size of your intending fish farm determines the quantity of water needed.
If youre starting small, you may be comfortable with a nearby well.
If however youre starting fish farming in Nigeria as a big venture, then, youll need a strong well or bore hole and water storage tank.
3 .Pond or plastic thank for housing.
I compared water with oxygen in my above analogy. Here, I’m talking about housing your fish.
Just like you, they need a comfortable place to live.
The more natural and comfortable their pond is, the better for them.
There are two popular fish housing system… backyard plastic tank or pond.
Plastic tank may be good for you if youre just starting fish farming.

 This small scale medium will help you to be familiar with the nature of the fishery business, before youll extend your market reach.
Fish pond sizes are also different.
Fish ponds are of various sizes and their cost varies depending on your environment and need.
What should you do?
Move out. Visit fish farms around you. Visit fish feeds seller. Visit some experienced break-layers. Ask questions. Ask questions. Ask questions.
The reason why I advise you to go out this way is because, these people will give you the best advice that can be useful to you in that environment, since they are in your vicinity.
After we have provided oxygen and house for our dear fish, what next?
Food. Fish Feeds.
Plants are able to utilize sunlight and simple nutrients to produce new organic material through photosynthesis.
Animal (i.e. fish) cannot do this. Thats why animals need to feed on organic materials such as plants, other animals, or prepared food that contains plants or/and animals.
When feeding our fish both quality and quantity has to be taken care of.
Feed them well and with quality fish feed.
There are three means of food for your fish.
Natural food. This is found naturally in the pond. This include; detritus, bacteria, plankton, worms, insects, snails, aquatic plants and fish (yes, fish eat fish if theyre hungry).

Supplementary feed. This usually include cheap materials locally available such as terrestrial plants, kitchen wastes or agricultural by-products. 

Supplementary feed may be good, but they are not for serious fish farmer (except if he includes the other types of feeds). Many people who are into fish farming in Nigeria are using supplementary feeds. some to their profit, others to their loss.

Complete feed. This is a carefully made fish feed. Theyre usually of good ingredient and nutrients, made by the experts who understand the perfect formula for the fish at different stages.
How much does it cost to feed your fishes?
You know I cannot tell what your vicinity looks like. Do what I suggested above. Move out. Ask questions and youll learn from people currently in your environment who know the current price of feed in your city and area
Every other cost and materials could be gotten right in your environment. Take out a pen and paper. Move out and ask questions
 4. Get Juveniles: Juveniles are the little fishes youll need to grow.

Just as If everything else must be prepared before the fish itself, yes. There are farms that specialize in hatching fingerlings and selling juveniles.
Make sure you go for a reputable farm so as to avoid getting unhealthy juvenile. You know what it means to adopt a sickly child, dont you? Dont buy unhealthy juveniles. We have healthy juveniles.
5. Think about a mentor and fish farming training: why this should be the first thing, I’m listing it last. Usually the difference between success and failure in any business is knowledge.
Yes, you have to be business-inclined to succeed in any given business.
Let`s continue…
Business Viability of Fish Farming in Nigeria

Since business is about watching the market trend and taking advantages, it will be good to understand the commercial trend of this agribusiness (business of agriculture)
The world at large is becoming aware of the nutritional value of fish.
When you notice the sensitization about how fish is the good source of omega_3, Vitamin D, Vitamin B2 (even though lay men may not know what all that means, they trust their medical practitioners and then eat more fish)
More and more people are abandoning red meat (because were told its bad) and embracing fish.
This is the reason why the world aquaculture (farming of aquatic organisms) remains a fast growing sector, yielding nearly 60 million metric tons (MT) with the estimated value of $119.4 billion (in 2010).

*Feed ingredients*
No one feed ingredient can supply all of the nutrients and energy catfish need for best growth. Commercial catfish feeds contain a mixture of feedstuffs and vitamin and mineral premixes that provide the right essential nutrients as well as the energy necessary to use the nutrients. The amount of each feed ingredient depends on several factors, including nutrient requirements, ingredient cost, availability of each ingredient, and processing characteristics.
*Protein and energy supplements*
Feedstuffs containing 20 percent crude protein or more are considered protein supplements. Protein supplements may be classified as animal or plant proteins. Animal proteins used in animal feeds come from inedible tissues from meat packing or rendering plants, milk products, and marine sources. Those used in catfish feed include marine fish meals, catfish offal meal, meat and bone/blood meal, and poultry byproduct meal. 
Animal proteins are generally considered to be higher quality than plant proteins. Animal protein is essential in the diet of fry and small fingerling catfish. Fish meal prepared from whole fish appears to be a better protein supplement than other animal proteins. But fish meal does not appear to be essential in the diet of catfish after they reach a size of 6 to 7 inches. Animal proteins can be replaced by plant proteins in catfish food fish feeds without affecting growth and feed efficiency. 
The main plant protein sources used in catfish feeds are oilseed meals, such as soybean meal, cottonseed meal, and peanut meal. Some other oilseed meals could be used but are not generally available on a timely basis and at an economical cost per unit of protein. Abrief description of various animal and plant protein sources that can be used in catfish feeds is given in the chart on the next page. 
Energy supplements are feedstuffs that contain less than 20 percent crude protein. The include grain and grain byproducts and animal fat or vegetable oil. It is important to include nonprotein energy sources in catfish diets because they are the most economical source of energy, and they prevent dietary protein from being used for energy. Energy sources typically used in commercial catfish feeds include corn, corn screenings, wheat grain, wheat middlings, rice bran, milo, animal fat, and fish oil. 

*Premixes*
Vitamin and mineral premixes are generally added to catfish feeds. They provide more vitamins and minerals than what is needed for growth to make up for any losses that may occur during feed manufacture or storage. They are made from high quality ingredients, using forms of vitamins and minerals catfish can readily digest.
*Feed formulation*
Catfish feeds have generally been based on a fixed formula with little use of a least-cost approach as is used in other animal industries. To use a least-cost computer program to formulate feeds, manufacturers must know the cost of feed ingredients, the nutrient concentrations in feedstuffs, nutrient requirements and nutrient availability from feedstuffs, and nutritional and nonnutritional restrictions. 
Use of least-cost feed formulation is limited because we dont know much about the nutrient levels that bring maximum profit in relation to levels that result in best weight gain, we cant store large number of different ingredients at the feed mills, and getting a wide assortment of feedstuffs on a timely basis is a problem. But we can use a simple application of least-cost feed formulation used to formulate catfish feeds. Here are some examples of restrictions placed on nutrients and feed ingredients for least-cost formulation of catfish feeds.
*Feed manufacturing*
Feed manufacturing puts mixtures of feedstuffs and feed additives into a usable form. The main goal in making feedstuffs is to increase profits of animal production by increasing the nutritional value of the feedstuff or a mixture of feedstuffs. Depending on the animal species, this process may range from a simple reduction of particle size to forming feed pellets through steam pelleting or extrusion. Catfish feeds are unique compared to feeds used for terrestrial animals grown for food because catfish feeds must be pelleted, water stable, and generally made to float on the water surface. 
Thus most commercial catfish feeds are manufactured by extrusion. If a particular feed additive will not withstand extrusion, the feed may be manufactured by steam pelleting into a sinking pellet. Fat is typically sprayed on the feed pellets before shiping to reduce feed dust (fines).
*Catfish feeds*
Catfish feeds provide all the nutrients catfish need in a highly digestible form. Several feedmills manufacture catfish feeds. Commercial catfish feeds are similar in composition, are of high quality, and provide for rapid, efficient growth.

This is a Great opportunity you would want to invest in …Call or whatsapp this number 08132034067..Lets talk more!!!