Problems of fish culture

1. Diseases
Fungal diseases like Saprolegnia, Argulosis, Ichthyosporidium, etc. are major constraints
for fish farming. According to the Farm manager Saprolegnia is the major problem for
the farm. As mentioned by the farm manager bacterial and parasitic diseases have not
been identified from the farm yet.
2. Security
Since the farm is near the river and have wild environment ( bushy, grassy, stony), that
harbors snakes, frogs as well as rodents that preys on fish.
3. Owls (at night or early morning) and kingfishers (during day time) preys on fishes.
According to the Farm manager, an owl preys fishes weighing up to 2.5 kg. It’s a huge
loss for small farms.
4. Since the fries are bought from Chitwan, death of the fries due to difference in the
environment (water temperature, parasitic fungi, PH of water, etc.) is problematic for the
farmer.
5. Lack of availability of local food like bran, pina, worms, etc. for fish which should be
imported from outside the district.
6. Lack of subsidy to the farm. They have applied for 25lakhs subsidy (total investment 50
lakhs) but they didn’t get any subsidy.
7. There is no availability of veterinary facility around the vicinity incase if the fishes suffer
from diseases.
8. Road problem in the neighborhood. The main path of the Farm has been blocked by one
of the neighbors. It has been quagmire for them to upgrade their farm.
Solutions of the Problems:

1. For Fungal diseases use a solution of phenoxethol at 1% in distilled water. Add 10 ml of

this solution per liters. Repeat after a few days if needed, but only once more as three
treatments could be dangerous inhabitants.
If the symptoms are severe the fish can be removed and treated with small amount of
providone iodine or mercurochrome. For attacks on fish eggs, most breeders will use a
solution of methylene blue adding 3 to 5 mg/1 as a preventive measure after the eggs are
laid.
Similarly, the diseased fishes should be identified as soon as possible and isolated into
isolation pond and treated properly.
2. Cut the grasses surrounding the pond with a lawn mower on a regular basis. Some people
like to grow tall grasses around the pond for natural appearance but this provides ideal
cover in which snakes live and hide. The best way to avoid snakes around the vicinity is
to make the vicinity around the pond undesirable for habitation.
All the wood piles , rock piles, compost piles, mulch and traps should be moved far from
the pond.
Nets can be used to cover the ponds to avoid king fishers and owls.
3. The newly bought fishes are not directly released in the pond. They are first kept in
plastic bags containing water from Chitwan (Source for stock fish) for about 15-20
minutes. If they perform well then the fishes are released in the pond. This helps to
analyze the environmental effects on the fishes.
Similarly, PH of the water in the pond should be checked once a month. If acidic water is
found, they use Calcium Carbonate or lime or dung slurry in the pond.
4. Local Government should make initiatives for availability of food for the fishes within
the vicinity of the farm. Similarly, the Farm manager can add space for food production
for fish in his/her own expenses.
5. Biased subsidy should be strictly prohibited to support and continuity of small farms.
6. Roads and footpaths are basic infrastructures to attract local as well as external tourists
in the farm. So, local government (woda karyalaya or nagarpalika) should fix disputes for
the road.
7. There should be provision for veterinary facility within the vicinity so that the farmers
can visit to the vet at any time whenever they have problems.