Catch fish in a man-made pond - breed it right in the country!
Indeed, why go far? After all, you can easily catch fish on your ears right from your own pond in the country... Just before that you need to work a little. But then everything will pay off with interest!
Knowledge and work will help to create a fish pond in the country!
It is clear that not every body of water is suitable for fish farming. There are some points to consider here.
The depth of the pond should be no less than 120 cm so that the water in it does not freeze in severe frosts. Otherwise, the inhabitants of the pond may die.
The volume of water for each individual up to 10 cm in size is about 50 liters. To determine the optimal number of inhabitants of the pond, you need to make the appropriate calculations. It should be borne in mind that larger specimens require a larger volume of water for normal life.
It is necessary to install the pond in an area not shaded by trees, since the foliage, getting into it, will rot. But one part of the reservoir should still be in the shade so that the fish have the opportunity to hide from direct sunlight. You can place the pond next to the fence or make a special portable screen. For beauty, artificial trees are used for this purpose or garden sculptures.
It is also worth considering the possibility of supplying electricity to an artificial reservoir for using a compressor or aerator and devices for cleaning it. The need to add water to the pond or even partially change it requires a supply to it pipeline.
The material from which the reservoir is made must be safe for fish. The bottom of the pond must be covered with sand and gravel, and plants must be planted on it. It is also a good idea to arrange artificial caves made of stones in the reservoir so that its inhabitants can hide in them.
And fish, like air, need air in water!
From the course of biology, everyone knows that oxygen is also required for gill breathing. Just not the kind that land creatures need.
Therefore, the most important thing in fish farming in an artificial reservoir is a sufficient amount of oxygen dissolved in the water.
In order to keep it normal, you should purchase an aerator of the appropriate capacity, which depends on the volume of the pond.
It is worth remembering that the amount of oxygen is significantly reduced due to putrefactive processes that inevitably occur in water. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly cleanse the pond from the remnants of uneaten food that gets into it from outside the leaves and grass.
You also need to try to create the right microclimate in the pond. Due to the large amount of algae, the presence of snails in it, it is quite possible to do this.
There are some species of fish, such as roach, that eat duckweed. If such inhabitants settle in a reservoir, then the problem of blooming water will be solved by itself.
The number of fish in the reservoir will regularly increase due to their reproduction. It can also cause a decrease in oxygen in the water. Therefore, it is necessary to regulate the amount of fish by catching it.
In winter, the water is covered with ice. Because of this, the supply of oxygen is sharply reduced. The inhabitants of the pond can simply suffocate. A prerequisite for the fish farmer is the device in the ice, an ice hole, which is covered with straw on top. Compressors and pumps that supply air to the water will not be superfluous during this period.
Some fish farmers put a bunch of reeds in the hole.This clever method allows air to flow even when the pond is covered with ice.
The process of settling the reservoir is quite time-consuming and laborious ...
But the pond is ready. Everything is provided for, thought out. It seems that you can already launch fish into it. But no! There is no need to rush in this case.
The water in the pond should settle for a month. It is believed that the reservoir is ready for settlement if silt has appeared on its walls. It is useful to add a certain amount of river or lake water to it to form the necessary microclimate in the pond and speed up the process.
It is important to measure the pH of the water before replanting broodstock into the pond. This procedure should be done regularly, and especially often in winter. Knowing the acidity necessary for the life of the inhabitants of the pond, you need to try to achieve exactly this indicator. Installing lime filters in the reservoir will help solve the problem. Lime is added to reduce acidity.
Do not put fish caught in a river or lake into the pond. She may be sick or infected with parasites. It is best to take manufacturers in specialized stores.
The fish is under extreme stress at the time of transplantation. Additionally, she can be shocked by the temperature drop. Therefore, experts suggest this method. The young animals brought along with the package are placed in a reservoir. In this state, future inhabitants should spend about an hour. The temperature inside the bag will smoothly become equal to that in the pond. The fish will get used to it gradually. So her “moving” to a new place of residence will become less painful.
What is the best fish to breed in an artificial reservoir?
It is very important to take into account the coexistence of species with each other. Predators are best kept away from smaller fish. And taking care of the fry in this case is far from the last thing.
If you decide to start breeding fish for catching and eating, then it is best for this purpose that are suitable:
- crucian carp;
- carp;
- tench;
- perch;
- zander;
- catfish;
- goby;
- ruff.
These fish are unpretentious in keeping, grow well. They are extremely voracious though.
For pike perch, catfish, in addition to the usual feeding, small fish are launched into the reservoir: stickleback, bleak and others.
But carp are less picky about food. They are fed not only with worms and insects, but also with steamed grain of cereals and legumes, as well as a mash of mixed feed.
The active growth of fish occurs in spring and summer. During this time, fish farmers feed their pets 1-2 times a day. It is recommended to do this at the same time and in a certain place, so that the inhabitants of the artificial reservoir develop a conditioned reflex. After 10 minutes after feeding, food residues should be removed so that they do not rot in the water.
In autumn, when the temperature in the pond drops below +10 degrees, the fish stops feeding. Therefore, the fish farmers stop feeding her.
But you do not need to stop monitoring the state of the reservoir, even in winter. And if everything is done correctly, the pond will be able to provide the family with fish.