The Care & Feeding of Pond Catfish

Raising Catfish

• There are two different ways to raise catfish. In the open-water method, the fish have free run of the pond; therefore, this is only advisable if the catfish are the only fish in the pond. In cage culture, the fish are kept confined and must be fed regularly, as they do not have access to their natural food sources.

Accommodation Size

• In an open-water setup, approximately one acre is needed to farm 300 pounds of catfish in one year. It is possible to generate up to 2,000 pounds of catfish per acre in cages; this number decreases as the size of the pond decreases.

Pond Population

• The number of catfish in the pond is significant; if the population gets too high, the fish will become susceptible to disease, parasites and even oxygen shortages. Before introducing a new batch of catfish, be sure to clear the water of any existing fish that may carry diseases or eat the food intended for the catfish.

Nutrients

• Providing the right type and quantity of nutrients is key, especially in smaller ponds. Catfish require 40 different nutrients: These are available in a number of commercial foods. Most foods contain a high percentage of starch from grain and grain byproducts, low levels of lipids, and approximately 25 percent carbohydrates.

Feeding and Water Quality

• There are no hard-and-fast guidelines for feeding catfish, though the recommendation is once per day, every day. Make sure there is no food left floating on the surface of the water. If there is, the fish are being fed too much. This leftover food can have a negative impact on the water quality.