Feeding your catfish properly is a one-way and effective way to get the desired fish size growth and also the turnout of profit, as well as a way to notice the behaviours and health of the fishes and their overall productivity. Having managed both cement and earthen ponds, I’ve gained valuable experience in optimising feeding strategies, especially in cement ponds where controlled environments require specific approaches, and I can beat my chest to say that if you don’t get the feeding right, it could cost you a lot of money.  In this post, I’ll share practical tips and insights on feeding your catfish in cement ponds to achieve excellent sizing results.

We already covered my experience using Cement Ponds vs. using Eathen Ponds and building your own cement ponds in this blog post but today’s article will provide practical tips and insights on feeding your catfish in cement ponds to achieve excellent sizing results.

1. Understanding Catfish Feeding Behaviour:

My Observation:

One of the first things I learned was the importance of observing my catfish during feeding times. Before, I used to wonder why people spent so much time during and after feeding. However, when we started our fish farming, we would stroll to the farm to watch the fishes and how they were behaving. During these times, we were able to notice wounded fish or fish that were not swimming properly, consistently putting their heads up, indicating low water oxygen levels, among other things, all while we were feeding them.

In cement ponds, catfish behaviour can differ slightly from earthen ponds due to the more artificial environment. So, pay attention to how they respond to different feeds and feeding times. For instance, I noticed that my catfish were initially hesitant about floating pellets. Some fish were shy, staying at the bottom, while the more aggressive ones quickly dominated the feed. Adjusting feeding strategies to ensure all fish had access to food was essential for uniform growth.

2. Choosing the Right Feed:

In one of our articles on catfish, we discussed  stocking your pond, where we said  you can stock your pond with mainly four (4) types of catfish:

• Fingerlings (3 to 4 grams)
• Post-fingerlings (4 – 6 grams)
• Juvenile (6 – 10 grams)
• Post-juvenile (10 grams and above)

When it comes to feeding catfish, there’s no one-size-fits-all feed; there are a lot of variations and factors to be considered depending on the size of your fishes. But you want to: 

Invest in high-quality feed:

Investing in high-quality commercial catfish feed means looking for feed with balanced nutrition, including proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. High-quality feed supports faster growth and better health.

Feed Types:

Use floating pellets for easy monitoring and to prevent water contamination. Floating feed allows you to observe how much your fish are eating and adjust accordingly. Sinking pellets can also be used, especially for bottom-feeding fish, but they require careful management to avoid overfeeding.

High-Quality Feed:

Invest in high-quality commercial catfish feed. Popular brands in Nigeria include Top Feeds, Vital Feeds, and Aqua Boom. Look for feeds with balanced nutrition, including proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. High-quality feed supports faster growth and better health.

Feed Types:

Use floating pellets for easy monitoring and to prevent water contamination. Floating feed allows you to observe how much your fish are eating and adjust accordingly. Sinking pellets can also be used, especially for bottom-feeding fish, but they require careful management to avoid overfeeding.

Feeding Catfish in Cement Ponds

Catfish naturally prefer sinking feed as bottom feeders, but during their early, fragile stages, floating feed is advisable. Using floating feed in cement ponds allows for better monitoring of feed intake and helps prevent overfeeding, which can lead to water quality issues and increased mortality rates among juveniles.

To ensure your young catfish get the nutrients they need for healthy growth, opt for high-quality floating feed from reputable producers like Durante, Cargill Aqua Feed, Raanan, and Coppens. This approach supports their development until they are robust enough to transition to a customised sinking feed.

However, it’s important to note that while Coppens is highly regarded, counterfeit versions are common in Nigeria. Thus, for less experienced farmers, I recommend sticking with Aqua Feed, Durante, and Raanan, all of which are also available internationally.

Recommended Feed Sizes for Catfish in Cement Ponds

Catfish at different growth stages require appropriately sized feed. Floating feed sizes are generally smaller, ideal for younger fish while sinking feed sizes increase as the fish grow. Here’s a guide based on my experience:

 Initial Stocking:

• Fingerlings (3 to 4 grams): 1.5mm feed
• Post-fingerlings (4 to 6 grams): 1.8mm feed
• Juveniles (6 to 10 grams): 2mm feed
• Post-juveniles (10 to 50 grams): 2mm feed

For growing fish:

• 10 to 50 grams: 2mm feed
• 50 to 150 grams: 3mm feed
• 150 to 400 grams: 4mm feed

With the right feeding regimen, your catfish should reach 200 to 300 grams within two months of floating feed. At this point, you can transition to sinking feed with the following sizes:

• 200 to 300 grams: 2mm feed
• 300 to 600 grams: 4mm feed
• 600 grams to 1kg+: 6mm feed

For catfish exceeding 1kg, increase the feed size to 8mm or 10mm if available. Even fish weighing 3 to 4kg can efficiently consume 6mm sinking feed, so larger sizes are not always necessary.

3. Feeding Schedule and Quantity:

Consistent Feeding Schedule:

Establish a consistent feeding schedule to regulate the fish’s metabolism and promote healthy growth. Feed your catfish 2-3 times daily, adjusting the frequency as they grow. Younger fish may require more frequent feeding.

Night Feeding:

You can consider incorporating night feeding into your routine. Catfish are naturally more active at night, and night feeding can reduce early morning rushes and promote steady growth. Feed a smaller quantity at night to avoid overfeeding, which i will explain better in the next point  and ensure water quality remains stable.

Avoid Overfeeding:

Overfeeding can lead to water quality issues, such as ammonia spikes and oxygen depletion, which are more critical in cement ponds due to their limited natural filtration. It can also weaken the fishes, making the very active ones injure the weakened ones. For instance, in my cement pond, I initially overfed the fish, thinking they needed more food. This led to uneaten feed decomposing and affecting water quality. I quickly learned to monitor their feeding response and adjust the quantity to what they could consume within 5-10 minutes. So, start with small amounts and gradually increase as you observe their consumption.

4. Nutritional Stages:

When I started, I used a single type of feed for a long time, when I first got the fingerlines, but the growth was uneven. After an expert suggested we switch to stage-specific feeds, because they had outgrown that particular feed type,  I observed more consistent and faster growth rates, leading to better-sizing results across the pond. You ant to: 

Fingerlings to Juveniles:

During the early stages, fingerlings require a higher protein diet to support rapid growth. Use a feed with at least 35-40% protein content. Gradually transition to a diet with slightly lower protein (28-32%) as they grow into juveniles.

Growth Stage:

As your catfish grow, continue to provide a balanced diet, but reduce the protein content slightly. This helps manage costs while still promoting healthy growth. A protein content of around 28-30% is suitable for this stage.

5. Water Quality Management:

You see, water management is something you should take very seriously. Although, as of now, I don’t use any PH monitor to check the acidic level or alkalinity of my ponds’ water, you have to be a good observer, like seeing the colour of the water or the movements or behaviour of your fish in the water regularly. 

Regular Water Changes:

Maintaining water quality is crucial in cement ponds. Regular water changes help remove excess nutrients and waste from uneaten feed. Aim for partial water changes (20-30%) every 1-2 weeks.

Monitor Parameters:

Regularly test water parameters such as pH, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. Keeping these within optimal ranges ensures a healthy environment for your catfish and prevents issues related to poor water quality.

Although we don’t currently have a water testing kit, we plan to get one in the future. Experts advise investing in a water testing kit and keeping records of water parameters. For example, there was a time when we were rushing to church and quickly fed the fish without checking the water. Later, we found out that the water quality was bad, and we had to remove it quickly. With a water testing kit, we could have noticed the issue earlier. So, I’d recommend not making the same mistake as me (smiling face).

6. Monitoring Growth and Adjusting Feed:

Regular Weigh-Ins:

Periodically, sample and weigh a few fish to monitor their growth. This helps you assess the effectiveness of your feeding strategy and make the necessary adjustments. Aim to do this every 4-6 weeks.

Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR):

A key metric to track is the Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), which is the amount of feed required to gain one kilogramme of fish weight. Aim for an FCR of around 1.2 to 1.5 for optimal efficiency. This means that for every 1.2 to 1.5 kg of feed, you should expect a 1 kg increase in fish weight.

Feeding Formula:

A simple formula to determine daily feed quantity is to feed about 2-3% of the total fish biomass. For instance, if you have 100 kg of fish, you should feed them 2-3 kg of feed daily, divided into multiple feeding sessions.

Adjust feeding based on growth:

If growth rates are lower than expected, evaluate your feeding strategy. Consider increasing the feed quantity, improving feed quality, or adjusting feeding times. Conversely, if fish are growing too rapidly, leading to size variations, you might want to sort or manage the feeding more closely to ensure uniform growth.

Personal Example:

In one cycle, I noticed that my catfish growth had plateaued. After consulting with a feed specialist, I adjusted the protein content and increased the feeding frequency slightly. This resulted in a noticeable improvement in growth rates within a few weeks.

Note: 

We have a blog post where the expert himself, Bamidele Onibalusi, wrote on everything from starting a catfish business to discussing a lot about earthen ponds, which you can find in the blog below: How to Start a Catfish Farming Business

In conclusion, feeding your catfish in cement ponds requires careful observation, consistent practices, and regular adjustments to ensure optimal growth and good sizing results. By understanding feeding behaviour, choosing the suitable feed, maintaining water quality, and monitoring growth, you can create a thriving catfish farming operation.

I hope these practical tips and insights help you achieve success with your cement pond catfish farming. Feel free to share your experiences or ask questions in the comments below. Let’s continue learning and improving our practices together!

Stay tuned for more posts on catfish farming, where I’ll share additional insights, tips, and personal experiences to help you succeed in your aquaculture endeavours. Happy farming!