How To Hatch Catfish

 

Hatching catfish (commonly channel catfish or African catfish) involves several key steps, usually done in a controlled hatchery setting. Here’s a general overview:

1. Breeding Preparation

·  Select healthy broodstock (mature male and female catfish).

·  Ensure males and females are sexually mature (usually 1–2 years old).

·  Feed them a high-protein diet before breeding to condition them.

2. Spawning

There are two main methods: natural and induced (artificial) spawning.

Natural Spawning:

·  Place males and females in a pond or tank with nesting areas (like cans, boxes, or pipes).

·  Males prepare nests; females lay eggs; males fertilize them.

·  After 5–10 days, eggs hatch.

Induced Spawning (more common for African catfish):

·  Inject females with hormones (like Ovaprim or pituitary extract) to induce ovulation.

·  Strip eggs from the female by hand after 10–12 hours.

·  Collect milt from the male (sacrificed or stripped).

·  Mix eggs and milt for fertilization.

3. Incubation

·  Spread fertilized eggs in hatching trays or incubators with flowing clean water.

·  Maintain water temperature between 26–30°C (79–86°F).

·  Eggs hatch in 24–72 hours depending on species and temperature.

4. Larvae Care

·  After hatching, the fry (baby fish) absorb their yolk sac for 2–5 days.

·  Once the yolk is absorbed, start feeding them with live feed (like artemia or infusoria) or formulated starter feeds.