Fingerlings must be handled carefully from hatchery to stocking to minimize stress and disease. Proper procedures include ordering fish in advance, quarantining and treating them with saltwater upon arrival at the hatchery. When transporting, the water quality of transport containers and receiving ponds/tanks should be similar to reduce stress. Fingerlings should be acclimated gradually to receiving waters. Upon stocking, fish should be anesthetized, counted and monitored to ensure health and survival. Communication between hatcheries and farmers is important for rearing quality fingerlings.

2. Introduction:
• Fish farmers need a reliable supply of
healthy fingerlings to stock grow-out
ponds. Farmers can produce their
own fingerlings, purchase the
fingerlings from hatcheries, or use a
combination of both options.

3. Introduction:
• Fingerlings have to be handled several times before stocking
into ponds. The handling and husbandry at the hatchery, during
transportation and subsequent stocking into ponds, can
determine the success or failure of the grow-out phase. Poor
husbandry can result in high mortalities or diseased fish.
Problems with the fish may be noticed immediately or over a
period of a few weeks following stocking.

4. Introduction:
• Signs of stressed and/or diseased fish include emaciation (big
head-small body), lethargy, loss of appetite, lesions or "patchy"
skin, unusual color, "flashing", frayed tails and fins, or opaque
eyes. These signs may be associated with or precede
mortalities.
• By following some simple procedures, the likelihood of these
problems, occurring can be minimized.

5. • Place your order well in advance discussing
issues such as mean weights, grading, weaning
status (feed type and crumble/pellet size), size
of order, parental genetics, cost and payment
arrangements and delivery details.

6. • Place your order well in advance discussing
issues such as mean weights, grading, weaning
status (feed type and crumble/pellet size), size
of order, parental genetics, cost and payment
arrangements and delivery details.

7. • Fingerlings harvested from a pond at the hatchery should be
quarantined (stocked into tanks) and placed in a 5g/l NaC1
for at least 3 days. The salt solution reduces stress, prevents
fungal infection and parasitic infestations. This process also
allows the hatchery management to grade fish, discard weak
fish or non-target species and "settle" (4 to 6 days) the fish
prior to delivery to the farms. This process will ensure the fish
are healthy and capable of withstanding the stress of
transportation.

8. TRANSPORTATION
PREPARATION
Be prepared to receive the fingerlings. Have the tanks or ponds
cleaned, filled and operational and check the water supply, aeration,
pumps, etc are functioning correctly. Predator netting should be
provided and a supply of appropriately sized feed on hand.

9. TRANSPORTATION
INSPECTION
Before unloading the fish, make sure the order has been filled correctly
(species and number) and the fish appear healthy.

10. TRANSPORTATION
QUARANTINE
It is strongly advised to quarantine the fingerlings in tanks on arrival at
the farm. Treatment with salt and a "settling" period of 3-4 days should
follow. Tanks should have an abundant supply of high-quality water and
aeration.

11. TRANSPORTATION
ACCLIMATIZING
Fish will stress if there is a significant difference between the quality of "transport
water" and the "receiving water" (tank or pond water). The younger the fish, and the
greater the difference between the "waters", the less tolerant the fish will be. Both
bodies of water should be monitored for pH and temperature. If the difference in these
parameters is greater than one pH point (e.g., pH 7 and pH 8) or 2ºC respectively, the
fish should be acclimatized over a period of 30 to 60 minutes. Acclimatizing is
achieved by slowly replacing the transport water with receiving water. Small bilge
pumps and siphons are useful for this process.

12. PRIOR FOR STOCKING
ANESTHESIA
It is recommended that an anesthetic be used for handling the
fingerlings. The level of anesthesia should only be "light" (fish
remain upright) to maintain a low stress response followed by
a quick recovery once stocked. Fish should be transferred
between waters as quickly as possible

13. PRIOR FOR STOCKING
COUNTING
With the use of an anesthetic, bins and a set of scales, fish can easily be
counted during stocking into tanks or ponds. The fingerlings are moved in
small batches and the total weights recorded. By dividing the total weight of all
the fingerlings with the mean individual weight, an approximation of the total
number of fish stocked can be obtained. The mean individual weight is
calculated by weighing and counting a small sub-sample. Fish should be kept
in water as much as possible during this procedure.

14. PRIOR FOR STOCKING
STOCKING INTO PONDS
Care should be taken when stocking fish into ponds. Due to the ambient weather
conditions and the effect of algae blooms, pond water can have significant differences
in water quality compared to tank or transport water. Try to avoid stocking during the
heat of the day. Fingerlings under anesthesia, can become disorientated and "beach"
themselves in areas of poor water quality.
Fish stocked into ponds can at times, become "un-weaned". This can be overcome by
ensuring all fish are fully weaned prior to stocking or penning the fish into a small area
of the pond where feeding can commence.

15. PRIOR FOR STOCKING
STOCKING DENSITY
It is recommended fingerlings be grown for 3-4 months during a
"fingerling phase". Fingerlings can be stocked between 20,000 to
100,000 fish/ha depending upon each farm's facilities, design,
production schedule and expertise of personnel. A strict protocol of
water quality monitoring, disease checking, and feeding should be
followed during this phase.

16. PRIOR FOR STOCKING
STOCKING DENSITY
Feed size will depend upon the size of the fingerlings. Small fingerlings
(0.5g) will consume "fines" whereas larger fish will need 1-3mm
"crumble" feed. It is advisable to seek advice from the hatchery, prior to
delivery, regarding the type and size of feed the fingerlings are
consuming. At the end of the fingerling phase the fish should be
harvested, graded and stocked into the grow-out ponds.

17. PRIOR FOR STOCKING
COMMUNICATION
Following the delivery and stocking of fish, inform you
hatchery manager of any problems, or changes you would
like implemented. It is the responsibility of both the hatchery
and the grower to ensure fingerlings are delivered and
stocked in healthy condition.

18. In Order To Secure Quality Fingerlings
For Stocking, The Following Tips
Should Be Considered;
1. Fingerlings should be bought from reputable and
accredited sources.
2. Fish farmers should operate their own hatcheries to make
certain that the fingerlings they rear are of the best quality.
3. Fingerlings for stocking should be free from deformities and
other physical injuries.

19. In Order To Secure Quality Fingerlings
For Stocking, The Following Tips
Should Be Considered;
1. Fingerlings should be bought from
reputable and accredited sources.
2. Fish farmers should operate their own
hatcheries to make certain that the
fingerlings they rear are of the best quality.
3. Fingerlings for stocking should be free
from deformities and other physical injuries.

20. Pointers To Consider In Stocking
Fingerlings;
1. Acclimatize fingerlings to their new
environment
a. Do not expose containers/bags with fish
to direct sunlight.
b. If bags are placed in Styrofoam boxes,
open in dim light to avoid startling of the
fish.
c. Allow the plastic bag to float in the
holding facility or in the pond for 30 minutes
to equalize water temperature in the bag and
the tank or pond water.

21. Pointers To Consider In Stocking
Fingerlings;
2. Release the fish when conditions are right.
a. The best time to release the fingerlings is early in the
morning or late in the afternoon (cooler part of the day).
b. When stocking, the fry containers are partially
submerged and tilted to one side to allow water to flow
in. The fish are allowed to swim out. This way the
fingerlings are released without agitation.
c. Fingerlings should not be released into the pond, fish
pen or cages if water quality is poor, or lake current is
strong.

22. Pointers To Consider In Stocking
Fingerlings;
3. Stocking density - one of the several factors
that affects fish growth. The number to be
stocked per unit area depends on the species of
fish cultured and the size of fish to be stocked.
However, in selecting the proper stocking
density, the following factors should be
considered:
• Market demand
• Productivity of the pond
• Quality of feeds used
• Quality and quantity of fertilizer and methods of
application (Pond only)
• Fish farmers’ resources

23. THANK YOU
FOR
LISTENING! 