Choosing the best fish species for your fish farming

Important factors you should know before choosing fish for farming

Temperature

You need to know the climate of the tank, the highest temperature in summer, the lowest temperature in winter and how fast the temperature changes from day to night. Knowing this, as well as the temperature preferences of the fish you are considering, you can choose the right fish for your climate and budget.

Stocking density

When figuring out the number of fish to put in a tank, I like to use the rule of thumb for one pound of fish per 10 gallons of water.You can push this, but the goal is to provide enough fertilizer for plants and give you some safety buffers in terms of water quality and fish welfare.Keep in mind that whatever fish you choose will grow, so consider their likely harvest weight when storing tanks.

Disclaimer: Before purchasing ANY fish, always check the legality of the species online with fisheries department of your state.

Related post：How to Start a Small Fish Farming Business, Floating Fish Feed Production Line for Pellet Making

Photos: Best Fish For Fish Farming

1. Tilapia

Tilapia are America’s favorite aquaponic fish for good reason-they grow quickly, have a great temperament, and are hard to kill. As omnivores they will eat all sorts of feed. They prefer warmer temperatures and grow especially well between 70 and 80°F, but are known to be fairly adaptable.

The sentiment that tilapia ‘taste like mud’ is unfair. They get this reputation because they are so tolerant of low quality feeds and the poorly filtered environments. When they are fed a high quality feed and live their lives in a clean, ecologically stable, well managed aquaponic system tilapia taste great. This tolerance of variable water quality is one of the things that makes them such a great choice for beginner aquapons.

2. Channel Catfish

Catfish are a legendary part of the cuisine of many areas of the world, . You can keep them in an IBC sized tank of 275 gallons or more, but due to their their potential length you shouldn’t have a tank any smaller than this. If you are thinking about stocking tilapia, a few channel catfish can make a great companions. They are peaceful tank-mates and will eat any leftover feed that sinks to the bottom. This is very useful as it will minimize the level of decomposing solids in your tank-helping to protect the balance and productivity of the ecosystem.

They will grow optimally in a similar temperature range to tilapia (70–80°F), and will stop eating if the temperature falls below 55°.

3. Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout are my favorite fish for one reason — they are delicious! You should only consider this fish if you live in a cooler climate. In an IBC system in Melbourne, Australia I grew trout from fingerling to plate-size over fall, winter and spring (9 months). The tank was normally around 60°F, (perfect trout temperature), thanks to a combination of shade, insulation and the normal seasonal climate. Rainbow trout will handle a temperature range of 45–72°F, but keeping it close to that 60 mark will maximise aquaponic veggie production and fish comfort.

Rainbow trout evolved in mountain streams and are happiest in clear, well circulated water. So, unlike tilapia, trout will not handle dirty water well. They prefer well oxygenated water with a dissolved oxygen level that never falls below 5.5ppm. For this reason, it is a good idea to provide additional aeration to your trout tank.

4. Jade Perch

The Jade Perch is a native Australian fish that is becoming very popular in the aquaculture industry. It turns out that this fish is great for aquaponics too.

It is difficult to find in the U.S, but if you can get it you should give it a try. Some reasons for its popularity are taste, hardiness, growth rate and nutrition. When fed feeds that are high in omega 3, Jade Perch is better than any other fish at retaining it and providing you with a nutritional meal at harvest time.

Jade perch will grow fastest at temperatures between 75–80°F, and will stop eating below 65°F. Like trout, they will not breed in captivity and will appreciate some extra aeration. If these conditions are met you can expect to harvest them in under 12 months.

5. Mackerel (Titus)

This is by far the most popular fish in Nigerian market but so sad it’s not farmed. All Mackerel Fish are “wild caught” but some farmer in Nigeria are considering the possibility of creating artificial salty water that will be similar to sea water where mackerel can only survive. Can this deep blue sea fish specie be cultivated artificially? Only time will tell but for now, you have to focus your attention to Catfish and Tilapia.