Carp seed rearing techniques

1. Carp seed rearing techniques
For Traditional Fishermen& Fish farmer by:
B. Bhaskar
Fisheries Field Officer, Mahabubabad

2. Seed rearing of carp
• Seed rearing of fish refers to rearing of two life
stages called nursing and Rearing phase.
• Nursery rearing:
• Pond area: 0.5 to 1.0Acre & 1M water depth is ideal
for spawn rearing.
• Large concrete tank nursery pond: 50-100m2 and 1m
water depth also preferable for high density of
spawn rearing.
• The Dried pond is manured with raw cow dung @ 12
quintal after addition of water up to a depth of
30CM. After 2 days, water level is increased up to
1M. In perennial pond eradication of aquatic weeds
should be done first.

3. Eradication of Predatory & unwanted weed fishes
• The presence of weed fishes and predatory fishes in the ponds
severely affect the seed survival through devouring on the seed as
well as competing with them for space& oxygen.
• Common predatory fishes in ponds: eg; Murrel, Gobi, Magur, african
catfish, singhi, Pabda, fresh water shark, other Fresh water catfishes.
• Common weed fishes in the Ponds: eg; Puntius, Barbus, Oxygaster,
Anabas, Amblypharyngodon, Colisa etc.
• Dewatering followed by Sun drying the pond is the most effective
method for eradication of These fishes.
• 1) Mahua Oil cake@1000kg/acre/1m Water depth. Other
controlling methods of predatory& Weed fishes
• 2) Bleaching powder(20% CL)@200kg/Acre/1M water depth.
• 3). Alternate application of Urea @40kg/Acre/1m, followed by
commercial bleachhing powder @70kg/ha-m after 18-24hours is also
effectively controls these unwanted fishes.
• The carp fish seed will be stocked after 12 to 15 days of application
of bleaching powder of Mahua Oil Cake.

4. Liming
• The PH should be maintained in range 7.5-8.3
for carp seed rearing.
• If PH less than 7.5 then it is advocated to apply
lime stone @ 80kg/Acre.
• The limestone should made into powder by
sprinkling water followed by stirring. and
should be applied uniformly in the pond.

5. Fertilization
• Phased manuring with a total dosage of 300kg
Ground nut oil cake, 80kg cow dung & single super
phosphate(SSP) 20kg/Ha applied in three splits is
being advocated for production of desired plankton
on a sustained basis during the nursery phase.
• A thick paste of half to one third of the above dose
of the different inputs are prepared and applied as
basal dose 2-3day to spawn stocking.
• The remaining amount is applied later in 2-3split
doses depending on the plankton levels of the pond
or tank preferably on 6th and 11th Day of the
Nursery phase.

6. Insect control
• Before stocking of fry netting is done
repeatedly by mosquito net. The netted insects
are dipped in half bucket of water added with
20ml of kerosene oil.
• For 4-5Minutes which kills all the Insects.

7. Stocking of Spawn
• Normally the spawn are stocked @20Lakhs/Acre in
the earthen nursery ponds.
• The stocking density can be increased 3-4times In
cement tanks.
• Mono species culture is advocated for nursery
rearing phase.
• The spawn are transferred from the Hatchery and
Stocked in nurseries during cool hours, preferably in
morning, after due acclimatization to the new
environment.

8. Supplementary feeding
• Feed may not be supplied on the first day of
stocking the spawn.
• On second day, supplementary feed of mixture of
finely powdered groundnut oil cake and rice bran
(1:1 ratio by weight) is provided @ 600g/Lakh.
The feed ration is subsequently increased by
100g/lakh every day.
• The daily feed ration may be provided in two
splits.

9. Harvesting
• Harvesting during 15 days of rearing period the fry
attain the size of about 25mm which is the ideal size
for transferring to rearing pond.
• Harvesting is done by repeated netting with dragnet
of 1/8’’ mesh.
• During a season from June to September at least 2-3
crops of fry can be raised in earthen ponds and 4-5
crops in cement tanks.

10. Rearing phase
Pond 0.5-1Ha area with 1.2 to 1.5 M water depth
generally is used for fingerling production.
Pre-stocking management practices as eradication of
weeds, predatory fishes and application of lime
followed in rearing phase is similar to the nursery
phase.
Cow dung is applied @12 qunital/acre.
After 4-4days, depending on the PH of water.
Lime is applied @80Kg/acre.
After 4-5days of lime application, stocking of fry
will be done @80000-120000/acre.

11. Feeding
• Sampling of the Growing fry is done in every 15
days to access the growth and the biomass.
• the fishes are fed @10%,8% and 6% of their body
weight in1, 2 and 3months respectively.
• Feed quantity is reduced if there is cloudy condition.

12. Phased Manuring
• Phased Manuring:
• After fry stocking, 200kg of cow dung and inorganic
fertilizer (10kg urea + 15kg SSP) is applied alternate
week.
• Lime is applied@ 80kg/acre once in every month
depending on the PH. Once in 15 days sampling has
to be done to access the health and growth of fish.
• If any disease occurs, it is advisable to consult fish
health expert.

13. Harvesting of Fingerlings
• Fingerlings are harvested when they attain 80-
100mm length in 2.5-3 months of rearing.
• If the fingerlings are to be transported, feeding is
usually stocked one day prior to harvesting so as to
improve their conditioning.
• Morning hours with low water temperature is the
most preferred for the harvesting.