Pangasius spp is commonly called as river or silver stripped catfish, Siamese shark, sutchi catfish, or swai catfish. This fish species live in freshwater and endemic to the Mekong basin. It is a riverine catfish belonging to the members of the family Pangasidae. It exhibits fast growth when cultured given a good environment.
It is cultured due to its strong market demand, fast grower, few countries dominate the culture production, and being the 3rd most important freshwater fish group within aquaculture sector. Pangasius is now cultured in several countries in the world like Thailand, Nepal, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Laos, Maynmar, Indonesia, and Cambodia.
Pangasius is an air-breathing fish that can tolerate low Dissolve Oxygen (DO) of the water. It can be cultured in fishponds, concrete tanks, fish cages or fish pens.
Common Cultured Pangasius:
- Scientific name: Pangasius hypophthalm. English name: Sutchi river catfish.
- Scientific name: Pangasius bocourti. English name: Bocourts catfish
Site Selection
- Efficient source of water
- Free from pollution
- Free from any disturbance
- Free from poachers
- Source of electricity
Size of Culture System Pond
- The ideal pond compartment is 1,600 to 2,400 sqm.
- The ideal water depth is 1.5-2 meters.
Cage
- The ideal size is 10×10 meters.
- The ideal depth is 5 meters.
- Stocking density is 15-50/m3
Pond Preparation and Management – Pond preparation is the same as general preparation for fish ponds.
- Draining and sun drying. Sundry the pond until the pond bottom cracks to eliminate unwanted fish species and condition the pond.
- Repairing of dikes and gates. Dikes and gates should be repaired to avoid entry of other fish and escape of stocks.
- Eliminating predators. Predatory fish species should be eliminated to promote better yield and harvest.
- Liming. Liming is done primarily to condition pond soil, since Pangasius spp. can tolerate pH ranging from Q.5-7.5.
- Filling of water. Fill the pond with water to about 1.5m to 2m deep, to provide a wide environment for the stocks.
- Stocking/stocking density. Pangasius spp. can be stocked at a rate of 3-15 pcs/m2 depending on the culture environment. Stocking should be done early morning or late afternoon. Survival rate of Pangasius spp. is estimated to be 80-90%.
- Feeding/feeding management. Pangasius can be fed with kitchen waste, rice bran or pelleted feeds (recommended for faster growth and better fish quality) at a rate of 2.5% of their average body weight (ABW) and will be adjusted bi-weekly. Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) averages to 1.5:1, which makes it a suitable for culture. Pangasius is omnivorous (eat both plants and animals) during their first year and become herbivorous for the following years.
- Water management. Water is important for all fish, so optimum conditions for certain parameters of water should be the primary factor to consider in engaging to fish culture. Water quality parameters like pH (6.5-7.5), Dissolve Oxygen (DO) (0.1 mg/l), Temperature (25-30° C), Salinity (<2 ppt) and water depth (1.5-2m). These should be maintained to get a better yield for the culture of Pangasius spp. Pangasius spp. is an air breathing fish thus, they don’t need to have a much higher DO in the water column.
- Sampling. Sampling is done to monitor the growth of stocks and to compute feeds to be given to the stocks for the following days. This is also done to see if the stock reaches its marketable/harvestable size. Since Pangasius spp. is fast grower fish, sampling is mandatory.
- Harvesting. Harvesting can be done in partial (selective harvesting) or total harvesting. Pangasius spp. can be harvested for about 5-6 months of culture period. It can reach the weight of 1-1.5 kilogram in 5-6 months of culture given the proper pond management.
Projected Cost and Return
- Stocking rate: 5 per sqm
- Stocking area: 2,000 sqm
- Survival rate: 85%
- Culture period: 6 months
- Target ABW: 1,000 grams
- FCR: 1.5
| Commodity | Quantity | Total Cost (Php) |
| Fingerlings (5cm) Feeds Lime Diesel Electricity Caretaker’s Salary Miscellaneous |
10,000 pcs 510 bags 50 kg 50 liters 6 months 6 months 5% of total cost |
25,000 |
Total: P344,190.00
Economic Indicators
- Expected harvest: 8,500 kg
- Expected farm gate price: P50
- Total gross sales: P425,000
- Less cost: P344,190
- Net Income: P80,810
Feeds:
- TATEH Feed Company
- Vitarich Corporation
- Feedrnix
- Feed World
Processors:
- Ace Feeds
- TGA Foods
- A& L Fishpond & Hatchery Inc
- Angel, Famous Gourmet Food Corp (Telefax: (045) 626-2235)
For more information, contact:
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)
San Fernando, Pampanga
Tel: (045) 455-0878, Fax: (045) 455-0823
Email: bfar3@pldtdsl.net, bfar3@yahoo.com
Breeders/Fingerlings:
Bluebay Aqua farm
Suite 105 West City Plaza.
#66 West Ave, Q.C.
Phone: 374-7542
A & L Fishpond & Hatchery Inc
Phone: 930-3520, 0917-5396019
Vitarich Corp. (www.vitarich.com.ph)
Phone: (02) 843-3033
Email: iuc@2007.vitarich.com
Console Farms Corp.
2 Samat St., SMH, Quezon City
Phone: 731-1842/7529
Telefax: (02) 731-6186
photo from tateh.com
updated: 1/31/09
2010 · All Rights Reversed ·
i very interested to ask about this Pangas, is thier supply at Malaysia country ?
i will wait your reply.
martin
Dear All,
In view of our future plans of culturing Pangas, we are having discussions with a few Poultry feed manufacturers with a possibility of manufacturing floating feed for us, even though most of the ingredients i.e. rice bran, fish meal, meat and bone meal, soybean, mustard oil cake etc are available including large quantities of trash fish – but according to the feed manufacturers the cost of one off requirement would be expensive.
In view of the above we are planning to initially use farm made feed with the above ingredients and a good binder make small palettes for broadcasting – this method of feeding will contaminate the water and to reduce this contamination has any body tried to use common carps @ 30-40 per acre to keep the bottom of the pond clean?
Has any one in the past used this type of combination in the past and with what success?
In case this fish is aggressive and may compete with Pangas – which other bottom feeder could be used – recommended?
Comments would be appreciated.
Thanking you,
Nadeem Alam
Dilshad Fish & Shrimp Farms
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Pls help..we started last September 19, 2009 with 10,000 fingerlings of pangasius at Tupi, South Cotabato,unfortunately,at the moment and less than a month we already have more or less 30 percent mortality ..why is this happening? what seems to be wrong?..thanks
Marigold,
Im in Gensan. I am willing to help you. Call or sms me at 09156057496.
I am a fishery graduate with long years of experience in aqua farming.
Jun Dajay
Dear Mr. Dajay,
Please keep us informed on the results of your findings – as it is very important for us as well. regards, Nadeem Alam Karachi – Sindh Pakistan
To:(BFAR) bfar3@pldtdsl.net, bfar3@yahoo.com
Dear Sir,
We have been constantly reviewing the various forums on your site, have pasted some questions etc as we are planning to start commercial culture of Pangas in Pakistan.
In the second para of this article Culture of Pangasius spp you have also included Pakistan where pangas is being cultured? could you please inform me when was the import made and from where? and in which farm in Sindh or Punjab (the main aquaculture Provinces of Pakistan) is this fish being commercially cultured with name and contact no of the farm?
We have come to know that for a pilot project some fry of Pangas and red talipia have been imported very recently for cage culture – but are not at all being commercially cultured.
Your comments – reply would be very much appreciated
Regards,
Nadeem Alam
Dilshad Fish & Shrimp Farms
Karachi Pakistan
dfsfarms@yahoo.com
dear sir..i would like to know the different Pungasius spp. cultured throught the world as well as pungasius spp cultured in India. sir please send me some of the photos of Pungasius culturable varieties.thank u sir.
@Mahesh, there are a lot of pangasius photos you can find on the internet. use this link http://images.google.com/
dear sir…
sir please send me the photos of Pungasius hypopthalmus and P. bocourti culturable varieties.
thank u sir.
@mahesh, try here:
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=pangasius&gbv=2&aq=f&oq=&aqi=g9
Where can pangasius fingerlings bought if one does aplly for contract growing?
Hi ! we are based in Mindanao, particularly in Davao City. We can provide Pangasius Fingerlings. Our contact no. is 0929-5353731.
Badette:
Call up Bluebay Aquaculture (02)3747542. 1.5-2″ cost only Php 2.50 in Luzon and Php 3.00 in visayas and mindanao. They are direct producers.
Dear Sirs:
It possible to use framed canvas as culture tank for the grow-out of pangasius? What is the right percentage of mixture using the commercial feeds with the kuhol as subtitute feeding.
tnx…
greetings….
Sir leo, can I have ur surname pls…
cause i made tour publications one of my references in m y proposal..
@khem, it’s Torres.
http://www.mixph.com/about-2
I am a backyard raiser and presently with 3 concrete pond of 3mx4mx1.5m. Initially I was able to buy only 20 pcs. of 7″ size. I found out that it is fast growing.
May I know please where I can buy a circular plastic tank of 3 meters diameter x 1.5m depth, in preparation for expansion.
Thanks.
Rene Berdan
@rene t. berdan, there are a lot of stores selling plastic drums here in pulilan, bulacan.
sir i am very much interested with the growing of pangasius.. how do i know more?
@robert, check “Related Posts” and read through the comments. you can also contact listed agencies for further information.
is this a reliable source? we are considering the idea of starting a pangasius culture. can you give us any advise with regards the process of raising a culture in a small-area basis?
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