CATDOLL : CATDOLL: How to breed eels? The latest breeding methods

Eel breeding technology

1. Water body selection: Generally, any water body that can be used to raise fish and shrimp and has convenient irrigation and drainage can be used to raise eels. The size of the water body is not limited, as long as it can be a pond, ditch, reservoir, or lotus pond where a net cage can be set up. However, the water depth should be more than 1 meter, and the water quality should be good, neutral to alkaline (pH between 6.8 and 7.5). At the same time, the water temperature should not change much. If the pond is too small, the water temperature is easy to change, which is not conducive to eel farming.

2. Cage size: Generally depends on the size of the water body. The most common ones are 8 to 9 meters long, 2 to 3 meters wide, and 1.5 to 2.0 meters deep. Each cage is about 20 square meters.

3. Net box material: Use high-quality polyethylene mesh. Some inferior meshes look dull and are very heavy. Net boxes made of this material will age in less than a year and need to be replaced halfway through, so they are not suitable for use.

4. Installation of cages: The cages should be 0.5-1.0 meters into the water and 0.4-0.8 meters above the water surface. The distance between the bottom of the cage and the bottom of the pond should preferably be at least 0.3-0.5 meters. As for the number of cages, it depends on the specific situation. Because eels are resistant to hypoxia, if the water body is large and water exchange is convenient, as long as the operation is convenient, the whole pond can be filled. However, if the water body is small and water exchange is difficult, too many cages should not be placed, because the water body is in a state of hypoxia for a long time, the water quality is very easy to deteriorate, affecting the feeding and growth of eels, and even causing illness.

5. Cage environment: The presence or absence of aquatic plants is one of the keys to successful breeding. Water peanuts, oil grass and water hyacinth are the best aquatic plants. More aquatic plants must be placed. After they survive, it is best not to see the water. More is better rather than less. However, a place where you can see water should be left at both ends of the cage as a feeding ground for eels. This position should be fixed. If the feeding place is full of aquatic plants, some aquatic plants should be removed frequently, but the feeding place should not be empty. Generally, a place as big as a washbasin where you can see water should be left in the feeding place.

6. Eel stocking: The eels in each box must be of the same size to avoid cannibalism. Generally, 1-1.5 kg per square meter is placed, and the best stocking size is 50-100 grams per tail. Because the eel breeding time is short, the seedlings are too small to meet the standard. Also, because the too small ones are all female, the survival rate is low. When stocking, 3-5 loaches per square meter can be placed in the box to remove the remaining bait and clean the net cage.

7. Feeding management: Artificially cultured eels should be fed with expanded pellets, with a feeding amount of 1-2% of their body weight. Frequent observation is required. Feeding is related to climate and water temperature. Generally, if the eels are eaten quickly, it means that they are too little. If they are not eaten after a few hours, it means that they are too much. Adjust according to the actual situation. When the water temperature is between 25 and 28°C, they can be fed twice a day, at 6-7 am and 5-6 pm, respectively, with a total daily feeding rate of 2% to 4%. Outside this temperature, they can be fed once a day at around 5 pm, and the feeding amount can be reduced as appropriate. When the temperature is above 30°C and below 15°C, you can stop feeding or feed a little every 1-2 days.

8. Daily management: The water body of cage culture is relatively stable, but for ponds with smaller water bodies, it is advisable to change the water appropriately. It is better to keep the water flowing if conditions permit, so as to maintain the water activity in the cage. Pay attention to keeping the water level stable during flood and drought seasons. Sprinkle quicklime appropriately every 10 to 15 days to adjust the pH value, and the pH value should be between 6.8 and 7.5. Because the mesh of the eel cage is dense, and the dirt in the water body, the residual bait, feces and other excrement in the cage can easily block the mesh, which hinders the exchange of water flow inside and outside the cage. Therefore, the cage must be washed frequently, and the net must be changed when necessary. At the same time, the net must be strictly checked for damage to prevent escaped eels and remove rotten water plants.