Fish farm lab report

Introduction:

Several factors affect the growth of fish in a pond. These factors include oxygen concentration, temperature, and the type of food given to the fish. Temperatures affect all the physiological processes in the body. Thus, different categories of organisms have a varying temperatures range in which they grow best. On the other hand, oxygen is mandatory for all organisms that respire aerobically and oxygen concentration usually affects the rate at which the organism in question grows. Similarly, the kind of food eaten by organisms determines the rate at which the organisms grow. Thus, any variability of any of these factors would affect the rate of growth of the organism. This experiment will look at how each of these factors could affect the growth of fish.

Feeding experiment:

Feeding is important for a successful aquaculture. The fish must have the sufficient amount of food, and the food should have the necessary nutrients for the fish to start growing. Providing the right amounts of proteins is vital for the growth of fish. However, the best protein policy is to feed the fish with the lowest percentage of proteins to obtain maximum growth. The catfish grows faster with about 32 percent protein. One can calculate the percentage of the food given to a stock as a percentage of their biomass that they feed per day.

Results:

Protein (g)

Weight (g)

FCR

Cost of weight gain ($)

Comments

20

122

2.7

0.70

All alive

40

121

2.5

1.10

All alive

60

108

4.5

2.66

All alive

10

119

2.6

0.53

All alive

15

119

2.6

0.63

All alive

8

124

2.4

0.46

All alive

5

107

4.2

0.76

All alive

7

117

3.0

0.55

All alive

9

119

2.5

• 51

All alive

11

124

2.4

0.50

All alive

6

115

3.4

0.59

All alive

Discussion

Protein is an important nutrient for the growth of every living organism. Organisms require proteins for their growth in varying proportions. In the experiment, the fish attained maximum growth when fed with 11 percent of proteins. The fish attained the largest weight of 124 grams. However, the fish registered the lowest growth when fed with 60 percent of protein an indication that even though organisms for growth require protein, there is a maximum percentage of proteins required by different organisms.

Oxygen experiment:

Oxygen is the most limiting resource in aquaculture. Fish and other aquatic organisms use the oxygen dissolved in water for their respiration. The oxygen dissolved in the water disappears if water is polluted or it is cut off from the exchange with the air. Low oxygen stresses fish and affects their feeding behavior whereby they stop feeding or may cause disease. The fish could suffocate if the oxygen concentration is very low. Catfish usually get stressed when the dissolved oxygen concentration reaches about 5mg/l and the fish die if the dissolved oxygen reaches 1 mg/l

Results:

Oxygen

Weight (g)

FCR

Cost of weight gain ($)

Comments

5mg/l

130

4.1

2.13

All alive

8 mg/l

128

4.3

2.19

All alive

10mg/l

128

4.2

2.17

All alive

12mg/l

133

4.3

2.23

All alive

4 mg/l

132

4.1

2.11

All alive

3 mg/l

106

9.2

4.71

Three of the fish died

6mg/l

127

4.2

2.19

All alive

7mg/l

132

4.1

2.1

All alive

9mg/l

129

4.2

2.19

All alive

Discussion:

Fish thrive well when there is enough oxygen dissolved in water. The catfish gained the highest weight when the oxygen dissolved in water was 12 mg/l. At this concentration, the fish had an average weight of 133 grams. However, the fish could not survive at very low oxygen concentrations. At 3mg/l, three of the ten experimental fish died due to suffocation. Thus, one can conclude that fish attains its maximum growth at high oxygen concentrations, and they do not survive at low oxygen concentrations

Temperature experiment:

Temperatures affect the chemical reactions in living organisms. The temperature of the water surrounding the fish usually affects the health and growth of the fish. Extreme cold or hot temperatures or sudden temperature change leads to thermal shock that might kill the fish, depress the fish’s immune system or allow an outbreak of diseases. Different fish have varying preferred temperature range in which they can grow better.

Results:

Temperature (degrees Celsius)

Weight (g)

FCR

Cost of weight gain ($)

Comments

20

127

4.2

2.14

All alive

30

121

4.1

2.09

All alive

40

All the fish died

35

All the fish died

5

All the fish died

25

128

4.1

2.13

All alive

19

133

4.0

2.07

All alive

31

128

4.2

2.16

All alive

29

126

4.2

2.17

All alive

23

127

4.2

2.15

All alive

22

132

4.0

2.07

All alive

26

128

4.1

2.12

All alive

27

130

4.1

2.10

All alive

28

130

4.1

2.09

All alive

Method:

In the experiment 10 catfish fingerlings weighing 27 grams each were fed 5 percent of their body weight each day. The weights of the fish were recorded for all the temperatures and the cost of the weight gained calculated.

Discussion:

The temperatures affected the growth of the fish. The highest rate of growth was recorded at 19 degrees Celsius. At this temperature, the fish had an average weight of 133 degrees. It implies that 19 degrees Celsius was the optimum temperature for the growth of the catfish. However, the fish could not survive at temperatures beyond 35 degrees Celsius. All the fish died at 35 degrees Celsius and 40 degrees Celsius.

Carolyn Morgan is the author of this paper. A senior editor at MeldaResearch.Com in college research paper services. If you need a similar paper you can place your order from best medical essay service.

"Janet Peter is the Managing Director of a globally competitive essay writing company.