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| ARTICLE INFORMATION: Author: Colin Calway Title: A Day in the Life of a Florida Fish Farm Summary: An account of the daily routine at a fish farm. Contact for editing purposes: email: Colin, at: ccalway@tnni.net Date first published: September 2004 Publication: Original to Aquarticles. Also see Colin's website at: www.htaquatics.netfirms.com Reprinted from Aquarticles: December 2004: Ryedale Reporter, Ryedale Aquarist Society, England |
ARTICLE USE: Internet publication (club or non-profit web site): 1. Credit author, original publication, and Aquarticles. 2. Link to http://www.aquarticles.com and original website if applicable. 3. Advise Aquarticles Printed publication: Mail one printed copy to each of: Colin D. Calway, Happy Trails Aquatics, 1811 CR 731, Venus. Fl. 33960 USA Aquarticles.com |
On his fish farm in Florida, started just five years ago, Colin breeds koi, mosquito fish, rosy barbs, jewel cichlids, blue gouramis, Buenos Aires tetras, Australian rainbows, platys, swordtails and armored catfish. A Day in the Life of a Florida Fish Farm by Colin Calway At Happy Trails Aquatics, the day starts with a general inspection of the twenty ponds - a visual scan of each pond checking for predators like alligators, wading birds, snakes and otters to name a few. Water qualities are checked, once again visually. If the fish are active and searching for food they are well. If fish are hugging the surface then there is a water quality problem, usually a lack of oxygen, which can happen under certain weather conditions. It can be remedied with aeration pumped into the pond. The next job of the day is to collect fish that have been trapped overnight. These fish are placed in holding tanks which have Solar Salt added to the water. The salt quickly conditions the fish and heals minor injuries they may receive from the traps. Traps are re-baited and placed in the ponds for the afternoon collections of fish. Some species of fish cannot be trapped. Those that can't are collected by pumping down or seine netting. All species of fish are held for at least a week before shipping or delivery. The fish are purged for three days prior to leaving the farm. This reduces the fish waste and reduces the amount of ammonia released. Fish are shipped from the farm Tuesdays and Fridays overnight express.
The above jobs generally take us up to mid-day. Afternoons involve all sorts of maintenance and repair jobs around the farm. Water lilies and aquatic plants are inspected and weeded if necessary. At 4 p.m. the fish are fed in the ponds and holding tanks. Believe me, fish know the time of day - they are all ready shoaled up and waiting for us in the areas of the ponds which we use for feeding. They get very antsy if we are a little late arriving. The final job of the day is to collect the fish from the day traps get them into holding tanks and reset the traps. It is said you need a strong back to be a fish farmer. Very often working in temperatures of 100F - I think a weak mind helps! Whatever, I wouldn't change it for the world. Visitors are welcome by appointment visit www.htaquatics.netfirms.com or call 863 465 6799 See also Colin's other articles:
Hurricanes and Walking Catfish
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