To maximize fish production and profitability at your farm, you need good quality fingerlings which are healthy and have good growth potential. This is largely determined by genetics. Though genetics are complicated, there are visual indicators that help you select good quality fingerlings before purchasing/ stocking them in your production units (ponds/cages/tanks).
Why do you need quality fingerlings?
- Optimal feed conversion: Quality fingerlings are more efficient at converting feed fed into biomass = reduces feed cost.
- Fast growth rate: Quality fingerlings have a high rate rate which reduces the length of the production cycle.
- Uniform growth: This ensures consistent harvests and makes management and feeding activities easy. It also gives uniform sizes at harvest making marketing simple.
- Health and disease resistance: Quality fingerlings are most likely to be free of disease and parasites. Starting production with healthy seed is the best way of preventing disease at the farm.
- Market acceptance: High – quality fingerlings make it easier for the farmer to meet market standards of size, appearance and taste at harvest. This makes marketing of the fish easy and commands better prices.
Observable differences between good quality and poor quality fingerlings
| Good quality fingerlings | Poor quality fingerlings |
|---|---|
| Have uniform body sizes | Have different body sizes (both small and large) |
| Healthy appearance (no deformities and injuries) | Have deformities and injuries on their body |
| Fish of the same type/species | Fish of mixed type/species |
| Vigorous responses and normal behaviors | Weak responses and abnormal behaviors |
| Bright and uniform coloration | Dull and different colorations |
| Free of disease/parasites | Show signs of disease/parasites |
Characteristics of good quality Nile Tilapia fingerlings
1. Have dark coloration of wide vertical bars along the sides
2. Have small mouth with bicuspid jaw teeth
3. They have a truncated caudal fin that has many thin black bands
4. Average body weight of at least 2 grams
Characteristics of good quality African catfish fingerlings
1. Have a long and slender body, with a broad head and a flattened snout
2. They have a pair of long barbels on their upper jaw, and four shorter ones on their lower jaw
3. Have a uniform black/ dark brown body coloration
4. A male catfish has distinct sexual organ (genitalia) called a gonopodium
5. A female catfish has a round genital papilla
TIP: Buy your fingerlings from a recommended and reputable source. Visit their farm to see the production environment for yourself and pick the best fingerlings.
