Catla Boxca: A Popular and Profitable Fish for Aquaculture
If you are looking for a fish species that can grow fast, fetch a good price, and adapt well to different pond conditions, you might want to consider catla boxca. Catla boxca, also known as catla or katla, is an economically important South Asian freshwater fish in the carp family Cyprinidae. It is widely cultured in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, and other countries in the region. In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about catla boxca, including its characteristics, benefits, and culture methods.
What is Catla Boxca?
Catla boxca is a common name for a fish species that belongs to the genus Labeo in the family Cyprinidae. It is also known by many other names, such as Indian major carp, chepti, baudhekra, bacha, karakatla, and tambra.
catla boxca
Scientific name and classification
The scientific name of catla boxca is Labeo catla. It was first described by Francis Buchanan-Hamilton in 1822. The genus name Labeo comes from the Latin word for "lip", referring to the thick lower lip of the fish. The species name catla is derived from the Bengali name for the fish.
Physical characteristics and appearance
Catla boxca has a short and deep body that is somewhat laterally compressed. Its body is covered with large cycloid scales, while its head is scaleless. It has a bluntly rounded snout, large eyes that are visible from the underside of the head, and a wide and upturned mouth with a prominent protruding lower jaw. It has no barbels or upper lip. It has long and fine gill rakers and pharyngeal teeth in three rows. It has a dorsal fin that is inserted slightly in advance of the pelvic fins, with 14 to 16 branched rays. It has a short anal fin, long pectoral fins that extend to the pelvic fins, and a forked caudal fin. It has a lateral line with 40 to 43 scales. Its color is greyish on the back and flanks, and silvery-white below. Its fins are dusky.
Distribution and habitat
Catla boxca is endemic to the riverine system in northern India, Indus plain and adjoining hills of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Myanmar. It has been introduced later into almost all riverine systems, reservoirs, and tanks all over India. It prefers warm water temperatures between 25-32 C and can tolerate salinity up to 5 ppt. It is a eurythermal species that can survive in water temperatures as low as 14 C. It is a migratory fish that moves upstream for spawning during the monsoon season. It spawns in shallow water with submerged vegetation or flooded grasslands.
Why is Catla Boxca a Good Choice for Aquaculture?
Catla boxca is one of the most popular and profitable fish species for aquaculture in South Asia. There are several reasons why catla boxca is a good choice for aquaculture:
High growth rate and market demand
Catla boxca has a high growth rate that can reach up to 2 kg in one year under optimal conditions. It can attain a maximum weight of about 20 kg and a maximum length of about 1 m. It has a high market demand due to its large size, firm flesh, good taste, and high nutritional value. It is especially preferred by consumers who like to eat fish head curry, a popular dish in South Asia. Catla boxca can fetch a good price in the market, ranging from 100 to 200 rupees per kg depending on the size and quality.
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Surface feeding habit and easy management
Catla boxca is a surface feeder that mainly feeds on zooplankton, phytoplankton, insects, and aquatic weeds. It can also consume supplementary feed such as rice bran, oil cake, wheat flour, and fish meal. Catla boxca is easy to manage in ponds as it can be easily observed and monitored from the surface. It can also be easily harvested by using cast nets or drag nets.
Compatibility with other carp species
Catla boxca is compatible with other carp species such as rohu, mrigal, common carp, grass carp, and silver carp. It can be cultured in polyculture systems with these species to utilize different feeding niches and increase the overall productivity of the pond. Catla boxca can also be cultured in integrated systems with ducks, chickens, pigs, or vegetables to recycle the waste and improve the water quality.
How to Culture Catla Boxca Successfully?
Catla boxca can be cultured in earthen ponds, tanks, reservoirs, cages, or pens. The following are some of the steps to culture catla boxca successfully:
Pond preparation and stocking
The pond should be prepared by draining, drying, liming, and fertilizing before stocking. The pond should have a water depth of 1.5 to 2 m and a pH of 7 to 8.5. The pond should be stocked with catla boxca fingerlings of 10 to 15 cm length at a rate of 5,000 to 10,000 per hectare. The stocking density can be adjusted according to the availability of natural food and supplementary feed. The fingerlings should be acclimatized to the pond water before releasing them into the pond.
Feeding and fertilization
Catla boxca should be fed with supplementary feed twice a day at a rate of 3 to 5% of their body weight. The feed should contain 25 to 30% protein and should be distributed evenly over the surface of the pond. The feed can be prepared by mixing rice bran, oil cake, wheat flour, fish meal, and vitamins and minerals. The feed can also be supplemented with fresh or dried aquatic weeds or insects. The pond should also be fertilized with organic or inorganic fertilizers at regular intervals to enhance the natural food production.
Disease prevention and control
Catla boxca is generally resistant to most diseases and parasites. However, some of the common diseases that may affect catla boxca are bacterial infections, fungal infections, viral infections, parasitic infestations, and nutritional deficiencies. To prevent and control these diseases, the following measures should be taken:
Maintain good water quality and hygiene in the pond.
Avoid overstocking and overcrowding of fish.
Provide adequate aeration and oxygenation in the pond.
Use disease-free fingerlings from reliable sources.
Quarantine new fish before introducing them into the pond.
Treat sick fish with appropriate drugs or chemicals.
Remove dead or diseased fish from the pond promptly.
Harvesting and marketing
Catla boxca can be harvested after one year of culture when they reach a marketable size of about 1 kg. They can be harvested by using cast nets or drag nets or by partial or complete draining of the pond. The harvested fish should be sorted according to size and quality and packed in ice for transportation to the market. Catla boxca can be sold fresh or processed into various products such as fillets, steaks, cutlets, or dried fish.
Conclusion
Catla boxca is a popular and profitable fish for aquaculture in South Asia. It has a high growth rate, a high market demand, a surface feeding habit, and a compatibility with other carp species. It can be cultured in various systems with proper management practices such as pond preparation, stocking, feeding, fertilization, disease prevention and control, harvesting, and marketing. Catla boxca is a good choice for aquaculture for anyone who wants to earn a good income from fish farming.
FAQs
What is the scientific name of catla boxca The scientific name of catla boxca is Labeo catla. It belongs to the genus Labeo in the family Cyprinidae.
What is the maximum size and weight of catla boxca?
Catla boxca can attain a maximum length of about 1 m and a maximum weight of about 20 kg. However, the average size and weight of catla boxca in aquaculture are about 60 cm and 2 kg respectively.
What are the main food items of catla boxca?
Catla boxca is a surface feeder that mainly feeds on zooplankton, phytoplankton, insects, and aquatic weeds. It can also consume supplementary feed such as rice bran, oil cake, wheat flour, and fish meal.
What are the optimal water conditions for catla boxca culture?
Catla boxca prefers warm water temperatures between 25-32 C and can tolerate salinity up to 5 ppt. It is a eurythermal species that can survive in water temperatures as low as 14 C. It also prefers a pH of 7 to 8.5 and a water depth of 1.5 to 2 m.
What are the benefits of polyculture and integrated systems for catla boxca culture?
Polyculture and integrated systems are beneficial for catla boxca culture as they can increase the overall productivity and profitability of the pond. Polyculture can utilize different feeding niches and reduce competition among fish species. Integrated systems can recycle the waste and improve the water quality. Both systems can also diversify the income sources and reduce the risks of fish farming.
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