Composite fish culture involves culturing multiple compatible fish species together in a pond to maximize fish yield and productivity. It enables full utilization of available fish feed by including species with different feeding habits, such as surface feeders, column feeders, and bottom feeders. Common fish used include Indian major carps like rohu, catla, and mrigal as well as exotic carps like grass carp and silver carp. Proper pond preparation, fertilization, stocking density, feeding practices, and harvesting are required to achieve high production yields of 4-6 tons per hectare annually through this polyculture technique.

1. Prepared by:-
Krishan Kumar Yadav
M.F.Sc -1st Year
COLLEGE OF FISHERIES ,UDAIPUR

2. INTRODUCTION
• Basically, it is a fish culture in which more than one type of
compatible fish is cultured simultaneously.
• Fuller utilization of the pond's productivity for maximization of fish
yield, the aim in composite fish culture.
• This method enables maximum fish yield/production from a pond
through utilization of available fish feed.
• Carp culture is a highly economic and profitable enterprise. Among
many fish farming practices, the composite fish culture is one, which
a common fish farmer can easily adopt with comparatively less
investment to have more production and income than the
traditional farming practice.

3. ADVANTAGES OF COMPOSITE FISH CULTURE:-
• composite fish culture is the most advanced &
popular culture technique practiced in the
country.
• The main advantage of composite fish culture is
high production by utilizing feed in the pond
effectively.
• In this system , farmers can supply different
species based on the market demand.

4. FISH INVOLVED IN COMPOSITE FISH CULTURE:
• Depending on the compatibility & feeding habits of the fishes, the following varieties of fishes
of India as well as Exotic types have been identified & recommended for the composite fish
culture system.
•

5. Rohu Omnivorous Column feeder
Catla Zoo plankton feeder Surface feeder
Mrigal Omnivorous Bottom feeder
INDIAN MAJOR CARPS:
Grass carp Herbivorous
Surface, column and
marginal areas
Silver carp Phytoplankton feeder Surface feeder
Common carp
Detritivorous/
Omnivorous
Bottom feeder
EXOTIC CARPS:

6. TECHNICAL PARAMETERS OF COMPOSITE FISH CULTURE:
o Cleaning of existing ponds.
o Deepening of shallow ponds.
o Excavation of new ponds.
o Impoundments of marginal areas of water bodies.
o Construction / repairs of ponds.
o Construction of Inlets / Outlets.
o Any other item like civil structures, pump sets water supply
arrangements / electricity supply arrangements.
Selection of Pond

7. POND MANAGEMENT:
• Pond management plays major and critical role in any fish
farming before & after the stocking of fish seed. Fish farmers
should consider various measures in pre and post stocking of
fish seed mentioned as below.
PRE-STOCKING:
• In case of new ponds, pre-stocking activity starts with liming and
filling of the pond with water.
• liming will balance the pH and increases the soil resistance and kills
the parasite.
• The actual required dose depends on the pond soil pH value

8. Soil pH Lime (kg/ha)
4.5 to 5.0 2,000
5.1 to 6.5 1,000
6.6 to 7.5 500
7.6 to 8.5 500
8.6 to 9.5 Nil
• It is very important to go for soil pH testing before starting a new
pond culture.
• In case of existing ponds, cleaning of the pond and removing the
weeds by chemical, manual or mechanical means should be
carried.
Continue….......

9. FERTILIZATION/ MANURING IN COMPOSITE FISH
CULTURE:
• Fertilization of the pond in fish farming is an important task
for intensifying fish culture by increasing the natural
productivity of the pond.
• The fertilization schedule should be made based on the
quality of the pond soil.
• Organic and Inorganic fertilizers can be used for best
results.
• The fertilizer application should be suitably modified
depending on the growth of the fish in the pond, feed
reserve in the pond and climatic conditions.

10. • Cow dung @ 5000 kg/ha or any other organic manure in equivalent
manurial value can be applied. This can be applied after 3 days of
liming.
ORGANIC MANURE:
IN-ORGANIC MANURE:
Continue…
This should be carried after 2 weeks of organic manuring. The following chart
shows the details
Soil fertility status Ammonium Sulphate Urea
1. Nitrogen(mg/100 grams soil)
i) High (51-75)
ii) Medium (26-50)
iii) Low (up to 25)
70
90
140
30
40
60
2. Phosphorus (mg/100 gm soil) Single super phosphate Triple super Phosphate
i) High (7-12)
ii) Medium (4-6)
iii) Low (up to 3)
40
50
70
15
20
30

11. STOCKING IN COMPOSITE FISH CULTURE:
The pond will be ready for stocking after 2 weeks fertilizer application.
Fish fingerlings of 50 to 100 grams of size (approx) should be used for
stocking the pond at the rate of 5000 per 1 hectare.
Fish Type (Species) 3-Fish Combination 4-Fish Combination 6-Fish Combination
Catla 4.0 3.0 1.5
Rohu 3.0 3.0 2.0
Mrigal 3.0 2.0 1.5
Silver Carp – – 1.5
Grass Carp – – 1.5
Common Carp – 2.0 2.0

12. POST STOCKING IN COMPOSITE FISH CULTURE:-
SUPPLEMENTARY FEED
 Fishes in the pond can be fed with a mixture of rice bran & oil cakes in
the ratio 4:1.
 The fish feed can be placed on a feeding tray or in a feeding bag and
should be lowered to the bottom of the pond or feed can be dispersed at
the corners of the pond
 feeding rate is 5 to 6 % of the body weight up to 500 gram size of fish and
then reduce to 3.5% of body weight from 500 to 1000 gram size.

13. • Organic manuring should be done in monthly
installments @ 1000 kg/ha where as inorganic
fertilization should be done at monthly
intervals alternating with organic manuring.
• Rate of fertilization will depends on the pond
productivity & the growth rate of the fish.
MANURING:
Continue…

14. HARVESTING AND YIELD IN COMPOSITE FISH
CULTURE
• Fish can be harvested at the end of first year, when the
fishes attain average weight of 500 grams to 1.50 kg.
• With proper management and care a production of 4 to
6 tons/ha can be achieved in a year.
• Harvesting is done by partial de-watering and repeated
netting.

15. REFERENCE
• FAO , 2014
• HANDBOOK ON FISHERIES , 2012
• Aquaculture Production Systems – Edited by james H. Tidwell.
• www.fao.org/../general metodology for composite fish
culture.htm