To practice mixed fish farming with major carp species alongside mola and punti, selecting a suitable pond is essential. Proper pond preparation, stocking, feeding, fertilization, and harvesting must be done correctly to ensure profitability in mixed fish farming.
Below is a discussion on the mixed fish farming method:
1. Selection of Pond/Seasonal Waterbody:
- Choose a pond that receives adequate sunlight.
- The pond or waterbody should be flood-free and of moderate size.
- Loamy or clay-loam soil is ideal for pond construction.
- The water depth should be between 1 to 1.5 meters.
2. Preparation of the Waterbody:
- Repair pond banks and remove unwanted weeds.
- Remove predatory and harmful aquatic animals.
- Apply 1 kg of lime per decimal of the pond.
- 7-8 days after liming, apply 5-7 kg of cow dung, 100 grams of urea, and 50 grams of TSP fertilizer per decimal of the pond.
3. Stocking Fingerlings, Feeding, and Fertilization:
- Per decimal, stock 30-32 fingerlings (10-15 cm) of carp species, along with 60 mola and 60 punti (5-6 cm).
- From the day after stocking, feed supplementary food at 5-10% of the fish’s body weight, including mustard oil cake, rice bran, and wheat bran.
- For grass carp, provide banana leaves, cabbage leaves, Napier grass, or other soft vegetation.
- Mola and punti do not require additional feed.
- To promote natural food growth, apply 4-6 kg of cow dung and 100 grams of urea fertilizer per decimal 10 days after stocking.
4. Fish Harvesting:
- Partial harvesting of mola and punti should start after 2 months using a drag net every 15 days.
- Harvest major carp species (katla, silver carp) once they reach 750-800 grams, and restock with 10-12 cm fingerlings of the same species.
- Final harvesting can be done at the end of the year.
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