The net profit of raising American red fish in Cuofeng is over 20,000 yuan per mu.

American red fish has strong disease resistance, rapid growth, high survival rate, tolerance to hypoxia and low temperature, so it is very suitable for high-density culture. After 2005, the aquaculture area of American red fish in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province expanded rapidly and seemed to compete with sea bass. However, the market price of aquatic products has fluctuated greatly in the past three years, often the farmers can not afford a good price for raising fish, and the fish price is sometimes even lower than the breeding cost when they are listed on the market. In recent years, many local farmers have lost money in raising American red fish, causing many farmers to switch to other species this year, resulting in a serious reduction in the area of American red fish culture.

Niu Damiao

During an interview in Zhuhai, a reporter from Ocean and Fisheries learned that Niu Damiao in the Jinwan area of Zhuhai is still optimistic about the breeding of American red fish, raising nearly 80 mu of American red fish this year. Niu Damiao told reporters: "the price is not good in the past two years, mainly because the listing time is too concentrated, and there are more stringent restrictions on the listing specifications of the fish, resulting in the price being repeatedly depressed. I am now adopting the method of delaying the release of fish for four months. The method of fish breeding in July and August of the second year can avoid the peak of concentrated listing before the Spring Festival, and the fish can be sold at a good price."

Roughness is the key to success or failure.

In view of the continuous low prices in recent years, Niu Damiao has long had the idea of delaying the release of seedlings and listing at the wrong peak. But the real hands-on practice was in July 2013. In that year, the surrounding farmers still chose to release their seedlings in the middle and late March, when the spring blossoms were in full bloom, but he avoided the so-called best release period in March. It was not until the last batch of American red fish fry came out in Fujian in July that he ordered a batch of seedlings to be shipped back to Zhuhai for breeding. However, it is frustrating that the survival of fish fry is not high in the rough process, almost wiped out. Niu Damiao did not give up the idea of delaying the listing of seedlings and wrong peaks. He summed up the experience of this failure and planned to try again the following year.

"the failure of the first culture was mainly due to the high temperature during the transportation of the fry and the death of the fry due to stress and discomfort. Coupled with the fact that the fry was first released in July, the work of getting the fry into the pond was not done well." Niu Damiao, who refused to admit defeat, ordered another batch of 2.5 cm fish fry at the end of August 2014. Drawing lessons from the previous experience, this time he paid special attention to temperature and time control in the process of transportation, did a good job in pond water cultivation and water quality control before entering the fry, and "marked the fry thicker" more finely. In summer, mainland rivers in Zhuhai flow into more fresh water, resulting in low salinity, sometimes even zero, so it is necessary to measure the water quality indicators and adjust the pond water to a certain salinity before releasing seedlings. The stocking density is 10 ~ 150000 fish / mu, when the fry is weak and needs fine feeding of high protein feed, and the best feed is fish meal.

Standard thick fish fry

"whether the fry culture can be successful in July and August depends on the survival rate of the standard, and the fry that has survived the rough period can basically be cultivated. However, at this time, the survival rate is far lower than that in mid-late March. According to the experience of these two years, the general survival rate is 50-80%. " After about 3 months of rough breeding, the size of fish fry grew to about 12 taels. At this time, the north wind rises, the weather becomes cool, and the salinity of the water body at the junction of the local river and sea gradually becomes salty, which is suitable for pond culture. In late November 2014, Niu Damiao divided the thick seedlings into four ponds according to the culture density of 1 ~ 12000 / mu.

Pay attention to keeping warm and controlling materials in winter

"American red fish is a widely salty fish, but we should pay attention to ensuring that the salinity of the water is above 3 ‰, and the higher the salinity, the better. Raising red fish in winter does not need to build a winter shed, but in winter it is necessary to increase the depth of the pond water to ensure that the water temperature should not be lower than 0 ℃. " Niu Damiao told reporters. Zhuhai winter is relatively warm, coinciding with the salt tide season, these conditions are more conducive to the American red fish winter. It should also be noted that the air temperature and water temperature are low in winter, and fish activities and feeding are not active, so we should reduce feeding, inspect ponds to observe water quality and fish conditions, feed according to the weather and fish health, and apply them regularly. Do not feed too much, so as not to cause waste and pollute the water body.

After February, the weather became warmer and the American red fish began to eat actively. Generally, the feeder is fed at a fixed point in the morning and evening, and the feeding amount is used to estimate the number and body weight of fish in the pond. Niu Damiao particularly reminded that American red fish have a habit of killing each other, and if not enough, it will cause American red fish to bite each other to death. Generally, it is fed at less than 30% of the fish's body weight. After feeding, the residual bait should be observed within 1 hour, and the feed amount should be adjusted appropriately according to the feeding situation, so that most of the fish are 80% full.

In the spring when the temperature picks up, we should pay attention to the prevention of parasitic diseases, such as rotifer, ring worm, melon worm and so on. There are few diseases of red fish in the United States, which is mainly to be prevented. Attention should be paid to the filtration and disinfection of aquaculture water, not to feed expired and spoiled feed, to strictly control water quality, to find problems in time through pond patrol, and to take measures.

Off-peak farming, with a net profit of more than 20,000 per mu

"the fish will be available in June this year, but the price is not good. I didn't have the fish until July 2. The fish price is 8.9 yuan per jin. Secondary fish (less than seven taels) total more than 500 jin, 72 to 2 jin of fish account for more than 90%, more than 2 jin of fish less than 10%. Since there is basically no American red fish coming out of the pond in July, there is no further size in the fish, and the fish are collected uniformly according to 1.5 jin per tail. " Niu Damiao revealed that the survival rate of this method is more than 90%, the yield per mu is 1 to 12000 jin, and the culture cycle is 10 months, which is 2 months longer than the normal culture cycle, and the cost is slightly higher than the normal culture cycle, about 6.8 yuan per jin.

It is reported that, in addition to price risk, the market also has more restrictions on the specifications of adult fish. Adult fish with specifications of 0.7 to 1.5 jin per tail are best sold, while fish less than 0.7 jin or fish greater than 1.5 jin can not be sold at a starting price. When the fish reaches the market specification, even if the fish price is not good, the farmers have to sell it. If adult fish are not on the market and continue to be cultured in ponds, more and more feed will be consumed every day, and the bigger the fish is, the more unaffordable the price will be. According to the tradition of throwing seedlings in March and listing adult fish before the Spring Festival, it is easy to encounter low fish prices due to centralized listing. On the other hand, Niu Damiao used the method of delaying the release of seedlings and listing on the wrong front. based on the yield of 10, 000 jin per mu, the income of American red fish per mu in 2015 was 21000 yuan per mu, making a considerable profit.