When operating a catfish hatchery, it’s not advisable to use water directly from a borehole. First, put it in a reservoir, treat it, and condition it to be suitable for fingerlings. This also allows oxygen to dissolve into the water.
Hatchery process
In the hatchery, t is not advisable to cut sperm directly onto the eggs as this introduces impurities into the eggs. Incubate the sperm to eliminate the impurities and this increases hatching efficiency. Incubation is done by cutting the sperms into normal saline solution and leaving them there for between 1 to 3 hours.
In the hatchery unit, have a base made up of aluminum, and under it put a gas heater. This helps act as a source of heat to heat the hatching unit.
The inner lining of the hatchery unit should be made up of a tarpaulin as this can absorb heat from the surrounding and evenly distribute the heat into the water.
Hatching takes place between 8 to 24 hours depending on whether the heat stoves are put on or not and after hatching, ensure transfer of the fingerlings to the farm with more water and a larger growing area to prevent death due to suffocation.
After 2 to 3 days when the hatched fish just starts to eat, remove the fingerlings and transfer them to a pond with fresh water because the hatched larva produces poison from their bodies hence need to clean before feeding the fish.
