With the advantages of firm, crispy flesh and a higher market price compared to regular tilapia, crispy tilapia farming has become a promising direction for fish farmers. The key to success lies in proper husbandry techniques and an appropriate feeding regime.
Crispy tilapia has become increasingly popular thanks to its firm, tasty flesh and higher economic value compared to regular tilapia. Applying proper farming techniques not only improves productivity and reduces disease risks but also enhances product quality to meet market demand.
1. PREPARATION OF POND OR TANK
The farming area can range from 500 to 2000 square meters (or farmed in cement tanks or cages).
Water depth should be between 1.2 to 1.5 meters.
Use clean water sources with active control of water supply and drainage, ensuring no pollution.
Before stocking fish, treat the pond by draining, removing trash fish, and applying lime. Use about 7–10 kg of lime per 100 square meters, then dry the pond bottom for 5–7 days.
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2. SEED SELECTION
Choose monosex tilapia (mostly male), size about 15–20 grams per fish, healthy, free from deformities, and swimming actively.
Stock at an appropriate density.
3. CARE AND FEEDING
Early stage (first 0–2 months):
– Use commercial feed with protein content from 28–32%.
– Feed twice daily with an amount equal to 5–7% of the fish’s body weight.
Middle stage (2–3 months):
– Continue with commercial feed, gradually reducing protein content to 25–28%.
– Reduce feeding amount to 3–5% of the fish’s body weight.
Crispy flesh forming stage (last 30–40 days):
– This stage determines the crispiness of the fish meat. Feed tilapia with broad beans (faba beans) to create crisp flesh, or use specialized feed designed for crispy tilapia.
– Note: Avoid using commercial feed high in lipids or fish oil as it may make the flesh soft again.
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4. POND MANAGEMENT
Monitor daily feeding and adjust the feed amount properly. Avoid overfeeding to reduce water pollution, disease risks, and feed costs.
Replace 10–30% of water weekly, especially if farming in tanks or small ponds.
Regularly check water quality and observe fish health to detect diseases early for timely treatment.
Maintain water temperature around 26–32°C.
5. DISEASE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT
Common diseases: fungal infections, parasites, hemorrhagic disease, gill necrosis, etc.
Preventive measures:
– Periodically mix vitamin C, probiotics, garlic, or herbal additives into the feed to enhance fish immunity. Farmers can use products like “A Vita C Max” or “A Lactobaci” as supplements.
– Avoid sudden environmental changes.
– Regularly clean the pond and remove uneaten feed. Periodically apply “A Bio L” to decompose leftover feed, improve water quality, and treat pond bottoms.
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6. HARVESTING
Typically, fish can be harvested after 4–5 months depending on fingerling size and farming conditions.
Target harvest size: fish weighing over 700 grams per piece with good crispiness.
Before harvesting, stop feeding for 1–2 days and change to fresh water to clean the fish intestines, helping maintain meat quality.
In general, crispy tilapia farming is not too complicated; it mainly requires careful seed selection, proper pond management, and especially adjusting the feeding regime during the flesh-forming stage to achieve the desired crispy quality.