Feeding of fish during culture aims at producing the maximum weight of marketable fish within the shortest time at least cost. The feed should supply the energy for movement and all other activities the fish engages in. It should also provide nutrients for body maintenance, growth and reproduction. Feeding increases fish growth and makes fish farming profitable. Feeds must be nutritious and economical in any farming system and must be properly managed to be effective. The nutrients needed by fish include carbohydrates, fats, protein, vitamins and minerals. Other components of feed are fibre and moisture. Fish diet must contain all the nutrients in the right proportions to bring about growth. TYPES OF FEED Fish in culture can be maintained solely on natural foods in a pond, or on artificial (formulated) feedstuffs or a combination of the two. The natural foods in a fish pond include mainly phytoplankton, and also zooplankton, detritus, insect larvae, etc. The abundance of phytoplankton ...
