Extension Folder No.

69
Grass Carp - - 1.5 Carbondioxide Less than 8ppm
2014
Common Carp - 2.0 2.0 Iron Less than 0.5ppm
Total alkalinity 20-150ppm

Composite
Feeding Group Spe- Species Total hardness 20-200ppm
Ratio
groups % cies % Hydrogen sulphide Less than 0.002ppm
Surface 40 Catla 15 1.5
feeder Silver 25 2.5 C. Post stocking:

fish culture
carp
1) Supplementary feeding
Column 20 Rohu 20 2.0
feeder Fishes need much more food than what is available
naturally in the pond. Fishes can be fed with a
Bottom 30 Mrigal 15 1.5
mixture of rice bran and oilcakes in the ratio 4:1.

in ponds
feeder Com- 15 1.5
Due to the high cost of Ground nut Oil Cake (GOC)
mon
alternate sources like Cotton seed oil cake which is
carp
comparatively cheaper than GOC. GOC and cotton
Macro- 10 Grass 10 1.0 seed oil cake can be mixed in equal proportions and
vegetation carp fed to the fish and is reported to give almost the same
feeder growth rate as that of GOC. The feed should be placed
fertilisation will depend on pond productivity and the
on a feeding tray or in feeding bags and lowered to
growth of the fishes. It should be ensured that excess
the pond bottom or it can be dispersed at the corners
fertilisation does not take place which may result in
of the pond. After some time the fishes will get used to
eutrophication.
this type of feeding and aggregate at the same place
at particular time for regular feeding thereby reducing D) Harvesting
the feed losses. The recommended feeding rate is 5
Catla- Catla catla Rohu- Labeo rohita Harvesting is generally done at the end of first year,
- 6 % of the body weight upto 500gm size of fish
when the fishes attain average weight of 800 gm to
and then reduce to 3.5% of body weight from 500-
1.25 kg. With Proper management a production of 4
1000gm size. The feeding is supplementary in nature.
to 5 tons/ha can be obtained in a year. Harvesting is

2) Manuring done by partial dewatering and repeated netting. In
some cases complete dewatering of ponds is resorted
i) Organic manuring may be done in monthly
to. Some farmers resort to partial harvesting also
Mrigal- Cirrhinus mrigala Common carp-Cyprinus carpio instalments @ 1000 kg/ha. ii) Inorganic fertilisation
depending on the season and demand for fish.
may be done at monthly intervals alternating with
organic manuring. However, the monthly rate of
Prepared by
Ms. N. Manju Lekshmi,
Scientist (Fisheries resource management)
Silver carp- Grass carp- Mr. Sreekanth G. B.,
Hypophthalmichthys molitrix Ctenopharyngodon idella Scientist (Fisheries resource management)

Favourable ranges in water quality parameters Dr. Narendra Pratap Singh,

Director
for fresh water composite fish culture
Published by:
Parameters Safe limit for culture Dr. Narendra Pratap Singh
Turbidity 30-45cm Director, ICAR Research Complex for Goa
Ela, Old Goa- 403 402
Salinity Less than 0.5ppt
For details please contact
Dissolved oxygen 5ppm Dr. Narendra Pratap Singh
Un ionized Ammonia Less than 0.05 ppm Director, ICAR Research Complex for Goa,
Nitrite Less than 0.1ppm Old Goa-403 402, North Goa, Goa
Phone: (0832) 2284677/78/79 (O)
ICAR RESEARCH COMPLEX FOR GOA,
Nitrate 50-150ppm (INDIAN COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH)
Fax (0832) 2285649, E-mail: [email protected]
OLD GOA 403 402, North GOA, Goa, INDIA
Introduction viii. Deepening of shallow ponds. e) It hastens organic decomposition. 2. Phosphorus Single super Triple super

T he technology developed for fish culture in ix. Excavation of new ponds The normal doses of the lime desired ranges from (mg/100 gm soil) phosphate Phosphate
which compatible and non-competing fishes 200 to 250 Kg/ha. However, the actual dose has to i) High (7-12) 40 15
x. Impoundment of marginal areas of water
are cultured simultaneously through the utilization be calculated based on pH of the soil and water as ii) Medium (4-6) 50 20
bodies.
of different feeding zones (all the natural niches) follows: iii) Low (upto 3) 70 30
from a pond so as to increase the total production xi. Construction / repairs of embankments.
from unit area of water is known as Composite Fish SoilpH Nature Lime(kg/ha) B) Stocking
xii. Construction of Inlets / Outlets.
Culture and it is the most popular culture technique 4.0-4.5 Highly acidic 1000 The pond will be ready for stocking after 15
in the country. xiii. Any other item like civil structures, watchmen
sheds, pump sets water supply arrangements 4.5-5.5 Medium acidic 700 days of application of fertilisers. Fish fingerlings
/electricity supply arrangements etc. of 50- 100 gm size (approx) should be used
5.5-6.5 Slightly acidic 500 for stocking @ 5000-8000 nos. per hectare.
depending on requirements of the project
based on its size etc. 6.5-7.5 Near acidic 200 However, if fingerlings of smaller size are used,
suitable allowance may be made accounting for
2. Pond Management 7.5-8.5 Alkaline Nil
mortality. The present model envisages stocking
Pond Management plays a very important role in fish Liming materials- calcium carbonate, calcium oxide, of advanced fingerlings and rearing for 10-12
farming before and after the stocking of fish seed. calcium hydroxide etc months. Depending on availability of seed and
market condition, stocking can be of 3, 4 or 6
A) Prestocking: iv) Fertilisation/ Manuring- Fertilisation of the
species combination in the following ratio.
pond is an important means for intensifying fish
New ponds, pre stocking operations starts with
culture by increasing the natural productivity of
liming and filling of the pond with water. The
the pond. The fertilisation schedule has to be
Fish species involved in
first step for existing pond requiring development composite fish culture
prepared after studying the quality of the pond
deals with clearing the unwanted weeds and fishes
soil. A combination of both Organic and Inorganic Depending on the compatibility and type of feeding
either by manual, mechanical or chemical means
fertilisers also be used. The fertiliser programme habits of the fishes, Indian as well as Exotic
from the pond. Different methods are employed
Steps in Composite Fish Culture has to be suitably modified depending on the varieties have been identified and recommended
for this.
1. Site selection: growth of the fish, available food reserve in the for culture in the composite fish culture technology
Factors to be considered are i)
Removal of weeds by Manual/Mechanical, pond, physico chemical conditions of the pond
Chemical or biological means. Species feeding habits and feeding zone
and climatic conditions.
A) Ecological factors- depends on location, 1.1. Indian Major Carp
topography, soil suitability, water quality and
Chemical means- herbicides like 2,4-D
1) Organic
quantity, hydrological and meteorological factors. (2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid), Paraqat or Catla Zoo plankton feeder Surface feeder
aqueous ammonia and Diuron/Karmex, Biological Farm yard manure(FYM)- Cowdung @ 5000 kg/ha,
B) Biological factors includes species selection, means- introduction of Grass carp, Tilapia, Poultry, sheep manure Rohu Omnivorous Column feeder
predator and disease control. Common carp, Pearl spot, Gaint gouramy Mrigal Detritivorous Bottom feeder
Crop byproducts- cotton seed meal, mustard oil cake
C) Economical and social factors includes type of ii) Removal of unwanted and predatory fishes and
2) Inorganic 1.2. Exotic carps
facility, marketing, safety and security, social other animals by repeated netting or using mahua
considerations etc. oil cake @ 2500 kg/ha meters or by sun drying Inorganic fertilisation to be undertaken after 15 days Silver carp Phytoplank- Surface feeder
i. Pond area: 0.5-2 ha ideal, but even 0.02 ha the pond bed. Other toxicants includes tea seed of organic manuring. Requirement of nitrogenous and ton feeder
ponds can be used. cake with a dose of 15ppm in salinity less than phosphate fertilisers would vary as per the nature of Grass carp Herbivorous Surface, column
15ppt, tamarind seed powder with a dose of 175- the soil fertility indicated below. However any one of and marginal areas
ii. Ideal depth is 1.5-2m 200ppm the nitrogen and phosphate fertilisers could be used
as per given rate. Common carp Detritivorous/ Bottom feeder
iii. pH: 7.5-8.5 iii) Liming - The soils/ tanks which are acidic in Omnivorous
iv. DO >5ppm nature are less productive than alkaline ponds. Inorganic Fertiliser Application (kg/ha/month)
Lime is used to bring the pH to the desired level. Species combination (ratio)
v. Salinity <2ppt Ammonium
In addition lime also has the following effects - Soil fertility status Urea
vi. Clayey loam soil is ideal for as it has low sulphate Species 3-species 4-species 6-species
a) Increases the pH. Catla
permeability & high fertility. Clayey loam 1. Nitrogen 4.0 3.0 1.5
contains textural components like sand: 20- b) Acts as buffer and avoids fluctuations of pH. (mg/100 g soil) 70 30 Rohu 3.0 3.0 2.0
45%, silt: 15-23% & clay: 27- 40%. i) High (51-75) 90 40
c) It increases the resistance of soil to parasites. Mrigal 3.0 2.0 1.5
vii. Desilting of existing ponds ii) Medium (26-50) 140 60
d) Its toxic effect kills the parasites; and iii) Low (upto 25) Silver Carp - - 1.5