How to Build a Catfish Farm
- 1). Research fish farming markets in your area. Write out a business plan that outlines your farming business in order to secure loans and pitch your business to local restaurants.
- 2). Dig a large 3 to 5 acre pond to start breeding young catfish (fingerlings). You need more than 6 feet of pond depth for the fish to grow.
- 3). Buy 1,000 to 1,500 fingerlings and place them into your new pond. Buy from fish breeding farms that sell young fish in wholesale amounts, often online. The best time to do this is in October, unless you are only planning to farm during the summer, in which case put the fingerlings in around April.
- 4). Feed the fingerlings commercial catfish food three times a week at a rate of 1 lb. of fish food for every hundred pounds of fish. You can train them to go to one area during feedings if you give them food at the same location of the pond. Do not feed catfish if the pond is frozen over. Feed the catfish every day in late afternoon during the hot summer months. Pellets make a good choice because you will be able to see how much they are eating.
- 5). Harvest the fish when they are fully grown by casting a wide net and keeping the pond water level low through draining methods. Channel catfish are ready for harvesting when they weigh one pound, which takes between 18 months to two years.
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