How Many Fish To Stock

PERCH MAN
Golden perch header white text web web

Dam_full_1280x720.jpg

To order, email: bruce@theperchman.com

HOW MANY FISH CAN I STOCK ?

 
What a question!
There is no simple answer.
Firstly lets break this question down into sub-questions.
What are your intentions?
 
For a farm dam
The stocking rate is calculated from surface area alone, ignoring depth and volume, within reason.
Generally, the fish need water depth to range between half a meter and three meters.
This will give the fish a range of habitats to use under different conditions.
Deeper water is ok, but it is mostly about the surface area of the dam.
Stock at one fish for every two meters of the distance around the dam.
Just walk around your dam and count the steps.
One fish for every two or three steps.
 
To create a place to go fishing
To be able to catch fish very easily stock silver perch at a minimum of 300 per acre, or about 700 to 800 per HA.
You will probably need to feed them as they get bigger.
You can start feeding immediately.
My fish are already feeding on commercial, floating, aquaculture pellets.
You will achieve the best rate of growth if you feed as soon as possible.
You can actually stock more silver perch in your dam, than you can other predatory species because, you can feed them, and because they are omnivorous. See more details about silver perch here.
To reduce the amount of weed in a dam
Fish can’t stop the water from turning green. (Green water.)
Australian silver perch will eat filamentous algae, but sometimes that will still grow faster than the fish can eat it.
Silver perch are capable of eating aquatic weed, and can help reduce the amount of weed in your dam but you will need to stock heavily if you have a lot of weed.
If you are not too concerned about being able to catch them, just stock about 100 to 250 per HA.
Or 800 per HA for best results, however, the weed may still grow faster than the fish can eat it.
 
To grow fish for you to eat
You will need enough fish that catching them is not too difficult.
If you stock at very low densities, they might be too hard to catch.
Therefore, stock at similar densities as you would to create a great place to go fishing.
Remember, you might need to feed them to get really good growth rates.
 
To become a commercial farm
Pond closer 800x450
Firstly, you need to be aware of the laws in your area, state, or country.
In Australia, each state has slightly different rules/laws.
However, every state requires a level of “licencing” for a commercial fish farm.
There are also laws about what species can be grown, and the structure they can be grown in.
That is, an earth pond, an above ground tank, or tanks in a covered area like a shed.
One thing is common in all states, you can’t sell fish without an aquaculture licence/permit.
More detail for commercial ponds is in the members areaof this website.
To order fish or food email bruce@theperchman.com