Fish Farming: Setting up your Ponds

Do It Yourself Fish Farming Aquaculture Can Be Done In A Man-Made Or Natural Pond

By Vin Hayes

The first thing to consider for setting up your own fish farm is location. The very best places, by far are remote, natural areas with ready access to fresh water. Ponds can be man-made and dug to specifications, or natural waters that need only to be located and prepared.

No fish can live in a stream unless there is food available. This is a very important point, especially when setting up a pond or lake for do it yourself fish farming. The aquaculturist has to reach a very good balance between the food source and fish. Too many fish and not enough food can lead to starvation and cannibalism in the fish.

The food source for your farmed fish is the first thing that you will need to be concerned with. Feeding your fish actually begins with the right vegetation. Choose a spot for your fish pond that's where there are trees and bushes very close by. They provide shade and protection from natural predators and a perfect place for insects to breed.

Cattails and other swamp plants are incredibly important and should ring the pond. These plants provide great breeding areas for insects that your fish will feed on. They also help to filter the water and keep the soil intact around the banks.

A selection of native plants should be planted right in the water. This can be accomplished by emptying the pond, planting and refilling it. This is probably the harder way. A much easier way is to use potted plants with bricks tied to them. It only requires that you submerge the pot and allow it to set on the bottom. These plants will provide homes and breeding grounds for the aquatic critters that fish feed on.

Once the growth of your pond has been established, it's time to introduce the food species you'll raise. Some of the best food items for your fish will be fresh-water snails & shrimps, Corixae, certain kinds of mussels and may-fly. Local lakes with similar fish thriving in them will give you clues as to what you'll require for your pond.

Introducing a variety of food for your fish is important, but don't over-do it. Before you add any critters to your water, research it and get information about its mating habits. You don't want anything to invade the water and cause problems with your stock.

Once the processes we've covered are done, your fish pond is nearly ready for operation. It is important to allow the waters to flow and rinse your pond, plants and equipment for a few weeks before planting your stock. During this time, periodic checks on the pond should be made and any problems addressed and taken care of immediately.

In the next report of this series, we'll cover the fish species for a DIY fish farm. You'll find out the best to raise. There are other species that can live with and even provide food for your brood. Find out what they are and what species to avoid.