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.
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