Winter management methods for fish ponds

In winter, if the ice in the fish pond is too thick, the fish may die from cold, hunger or lack of oxygen. Therefore, taking appropriate anti-cold measures in advance is crucial to protect fish and shrimp from wintering safely, promote their winter growth, ensure smooth stocking in the spring of the following year, and put them on the market early, which can also significantly improve the economic benefits of aquaculture. Let’s learn about the wintering management methods of fish ponds.

1. Key points of fish pond farming technology in winter

Northern Region

With the arrival of winter, northern regions are frequently affected by cold air, with the freezing period lasting more than 150 days. In extremely low temperatures, if the pond water temperature drops below 2°C, fish will stop eating. Farmers usually hope that the fish can safely overwinter so that they can be sold at a better price in the spring. The following are some suggestions to ensure fish overwinter safely and increase survival rates:

1. Increase water depth: Make sure the pond is at least 2.5 meters deep to improve wintering results. The decrease in rainfall in winter can easily lead to a drop in water levels and large changes in water temperature, which is not conducive to fish growth.

2. Feed management: Do not stop feeding too early to ensure that the fish are healthy before wintering. Feed fish properly to enhance their physique and reduce weight loss. Stopping feeding too early will cause nutrient loss in fish and increase mortality, especially among fry.

3. Water quality management: Maintain appropriate water fertility and ensure that there is a certain amount of phytoplankton in the pond. The water transparency in winter should be 40-50 cm. If the transparency is too high, appropriate fertilizer should be applied, following the principle of small amounts and multiple times.

4. Snow removal and ice removal: Snow should be removed in a timely manner. Local black ice can be left untreated, but if it has been frozen for many days, it is recommended to break the ice with a hammer, use a special aerator to melt some areas, and then remove the air head, so that the re-freeze will mostly be clear ice.

Central and Western China

The area south of the Yellow River enters winter from mid-November to mid-February of the following year. Winter is both the fish harvest season and the beginning of a new breeding cycle. Due to the low fish prices and large fish stocks in ponds, fish pond management is particularly important in winter. The following are the key points of wintering work for farmers in the areas south of the Yellow River:

1. Raise the water level: Try to increase the pond water depth to more than 2 meters to control the organic matter in the pond.

2. Reasonable feeding: For ponds with large stock volumes, reasonable wintering feed should be fed to enhance the fish's physique and ensure that the fish have enough physical strength to survive the winter. Otherwise, the fish will have poor physique and be prone to disease.

3. Sell fish at the right time: In view of the low fish prices, it is recommended to sell fish in time when the price is right to reduce pond density and alleviate financial pressure.

4. Disinfection and sterilization: Due to the high water temperature, iodine preparations or water beauty net should be used regularly to prevent fish diseases.

2. Preparations for breeding next year

1. Fish pond repair: Winter is the stage for repairing and improving fish ponds, improving facilities and equipment, reducing toxic substances, improving water quality, increasing dissolved oxygen, and increasing production.

2. Pond cleaning: Sprinkle 100-150 kilograms of quicklime throughout the pond to clean it thoroughly. If conditions permit, you can dry the pond for a month.

3. Develop breeding model: Develop breeding model for next year based on market conditions.

4. Choose high-quality fish species: Before putting the fish into the pond, soak them in Shuimeijing sterilizer to prevent infection by water mold. Grass carp fingerlings should be vaccinated.

5. Stocking in winter: For fish ponds where stocking is done in winter, keep the water level above 1.5 meters and the algae abundant; feed appropriately to maintain the physical fitness of the fish. In areas with higher water temperatures, the fish can also grow slowly.

The above are the key points for wintering management of fish ponds. Winter is about to come, and aquaculture farmers can refer to these points based on actual conditions.