Raising snakehead fish in cement tanks generates an income of 200 million VND per year.

(Baonghean.vn) - Mr. Le Thien Cuong, residing in Hamlet 4, Dien Thanh Commune, Dien Chau District (Nghe An Province), has achieved success with his model of raising snakehead fish in cement tanks, earning over 200 million VND per year.

Mr. Cuong had previously attended agricultural extension classes and consulted many aquaculture models in other localities to learn from their experiences. In 2010, his family invested in raising snakehead fish in cement tanks.

Healthy snakehead fish, when sold at the end of the season, can weigh nearly 2kg.

Raising fish in cement tanks has many advantages, such as: nets can be used to cover the tanks, preventing direct sunlight and reducing water overflow; cement tanks are built near a water source, making it convenient for daily care and water changes... On an area of ​​200 square meters, Mr. Cuong divided it into 5 cement tanks for raising snakehead fish.

He imports snakehead fish fry from the South, and the survival rate of snakehead fish when transferred from the Southern environment to the Central region is about 70%. Each farming season, he releases over 20,000 fry; with a cost of approximately 24 million VND for raising the fry. The selected fish must be healthy and able to adapt to the new environment.

Snakehead fish are raised in cement tanks, which allows for quick handling of issues related to water sources, food, and diseases.

With 6 years of experience raising snakehead fish in cement tanks, Mr. Cuong said: "Although fish raised in tanks don't grow as fast as in ponds, we can control the water source and quickly handle fish diseases, so there are fewer risks. When raising them, it is necessary to change the water in the tanks daily to keep the water clean and cool for the fish."

The main food source for snakehead fish is small fish. On average, each 100 kg of snakehead fish consumes about 4 kg of small fish per day. The cost of fish feed for one farming cycle (6 months) can reach up to 200 million VND.

With a 200m2 fish pond and an average annual yield of 5-8 tons of snakehead fish, his family earns a profit of over 200 million VND per year.

The fish fry are released at the beginning of March each year, and the first harvest can be done after 6 months. The harvesting period lasts 1.5 - 2 months. Well-grown snakehead fish, when sold at the end of the season, can weigh nearly 2kg. Each year, after deducting the costs of fry and feed, his family earns over 200 million VND from one snakehead fish farming season.

This is the only model of raising snakehead fish in cement tanks in Dien Thanh commune (Dien Chau district), and many people come to learn from its experience.

Quang An