Pangasius, Aquaculture’s New Rising Star
January 8, 2009 by Leo 5,218 Views
Called mekong kanduli and kanduhito in Filipino, the rising demand in the international market for this family of catfish has started to create ripples in the local agricultural world.
It started rather innocently. Early this year, top managers of Vitarich Corporation went to Vietnam and came across this freshwater fish called by many names: Siamese shark, sutchi catfish, swai, white or striped catfish. Scientifically called Pangasius hypopthalamus, these slender, elongated silverish to bluish-bodied fishes that can grow at 4ft in length and can weigh up to a maximum of 44 kg have been making waves in Vietnam because they are processed into fillets and are exported to Russia, Poland, Spain, USA, Netherlands, China, etc.
Marketing and sales expert Jose de Leon Angeles, Vitarich’s national marketing manager, who was with the team that went to Vietnam, was one of those who saw the potential of pangasius being cultured and grown in the Philippines on a commercial scale. “When we started to ask around, we found that there were already small breeders of pangasius here but they were not doing this on a commercial scale,” Angeles said. “They are bred only in aquariums because they are still considered as ornamental fishes.”
Seeing the growing market potential for pangasius, Vitarich soon found business partners in two aquaculture companies — Blue Bay Aqua Ventures, Inc. and Aqua Trends, Inc. both of which have the expertise to breed and market the pangasius fingerlings. “And since Vitarich has the technology on feeds to grow the fishes, the partnership was solidified and we’re working on this project to propagate pangasius.” Angeles disclosed.
Some local fishermen, though do not share the same level of excitement as Angeles and his partners do. “There’s this degree of hesitation among them and it’s understandable,” the agricultural sales and marketing veteran declares. “They are still afraid because there is no clear market. They would invest money but are doubtful if there are buyers out there. So we said there ought to be one final progam of the project and that is to sort of give our farmer-fishermen insurance—and that’s a buy back. We thought of a risk-sharing thing. They have to pay for the inputs, but they are assured of the buyers — and that is us.”
And why would farmer-fishermen go into pangasius farming when there’s the growing local tilapia and bangus market that could always be tapped? Angeles has this answer: “Number one, the common concern in aquaculture today, especially if you’re involved in tilapia and bangus farming, is that they are not as durable or as hardy as pangasius.
Bangus and tilapia cannot survive without oxygen. Pangasius can survive at an oxygen level of 0.01 — that’s almost no oxygen at all! Therefore, pangasisus can be spared from calamities such as fish kill and pollution because they have the capability to breathe in the surface.
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2009 · All Rights Reversed ·
Hello all!
I am planning on culturing pangasius in our fishpond. I would like to request specific informations regarding this matter.
>Where to buy fingerlings?
>How much fingerlings are depending on their size?
>What species of fish could it co-exist with?
My location is in Valenzuela
Cheers!
we sell pangasius fingerlings, straight from our hatchery located in Teresa, Rizal. you may contact me at 0922-8517070.
Hi ! we are based in Mindanao, particularly in Davao City. We can provide Pangasius Fingerlings. Our contact no. is 0929-5353731.
where particularly in davao ang hatchery ninyo? fingerlings, how much?
pangasius fingerlings for sale, ang tilapya fingerlings, including hito fingerlings.. plz txt me at my cp no.. 09275826090… location at bulacan..
can i ask you guys/gals what is the average size of cage/pond for growing pangasius?or is it also possible tog row it in tanks or drums just like what BFAR did on one of their programs.tnx
To all fishfarmers, aquaculturist and other involve in aquaculture: “dont ask where can we find or buy fingerlings? Let’s ask the organization involve in this matter on What is the potential of this species in our country? What is the market potential of pangasius? how to easily sell despite of other fish that is cheap? the acceptability of the people, especially in the lower level? the cost of production compare to other species like tilapia and bangus?… I think the vitarich should answer/ further explain this matter.. Thank you.
Do you have a branch within Quezon City? Where can I buy the fish?
Dear Sir,
It looks like you are looking for a supplier of pangasius fillet sir, you can visit our office at Suite 105, West City Plaza, 66 West Ave., QC.
We have available pangasius fillet or Golden Dory fillet.
Thanks.
Jimmy Kuan
Sales Manager, CKC INTERNATIONAL TRADING CORP.
does anybody here know how to prepare feeds for pangasius from fruits and veggies? pls teach me.
While I’m in the process of growwing the fingerlings can I be your distributor. I have lots of buyers hotels/restaurants. Provide the cost/selling prices; fresh and fillet.
Thanks.
@Rene T. Berdan, where’s your location? Maybe you can help me with distribution and marketing once I started the operation. Thanks.
hi! we have available fingerlings of pangasius. for details you can call – 0915 116 1319 or you can mail us at dianne_eytuzi@yahoo.com. you can also visit our site – pangasiusfingerlings.multiply.com
Hi!
Aside from Vitarich, is there any other company promoting contract growing for pangasius? Vitarich is currently promoting pangasius growing here in Mindanao. But the company is not actually ready to engage in a project until March. On account of its promotion through the Mindanao Business Council, we’ve spent fortune and time searching for an ideal pond area and developing a feasibility study but only to be told that it’s not ready yet. Being serious investors, we don’t think we can trust this company anymore.
Gico Dayanghirang
@Gico Dayanghirang, sorry to hear that, but as far as i know, only vitarich is offering pangasius contract growing. they are now in operation here in central luzon, particularly in pampanga and bulacan since last year.
Hi ! we are based in Mindanao, particularly in Davao City. We can provide Panggasius Fingerlings. Our contact no. is 0929-5353731.
This is what I have been saying. Its now May and the season for spawning pangasius. If you ask Vitarich if they are ready, I doubt it.
How can Vitarich be ready when they do not have their own pangasius hatchery. They have tied up with Boy Tycangco (the hito king of the 90’s)who imports his fingerlings from Thailand but suffers massive mortality upon stocking to ponds. Mr. Tycangco hired a Thai consultant last year but could produce only 3,000-5,000 fingerlings per batch on lucky days.
I guess it will be wise to put up your own hatchery so as not to depend from others wit regards to fingerling source. You can still sell your produce to Vitarich because they are very much in need of fish for processing.
email me for a more detailed discussion regarding pangasius. If you have a suitable area, we can discuss potential topics of inteest.
you can do it in cages or you can do it in ponds for as long as it’s in fresh water
Sure Mr. Berdan, just get in touch with us or email at at thiws address, or you can call or text at 9177854343. We have both processed and live, and large or small sizes. hope to hear from you
If you are in the quezon city area, you can call us for directions to our warehouse. Our farm is in pampanga, but we can deliver for volumes 50 kgs and above.
we also have live kingfish (500 grams and above) and live african hito (1 x1, 2×1, 3 x 1 (pieces/kg). Text or call. we can supply you a container van weekly or live or fresh/chilled fish.
you can call or text me. our farm is near san fernando pampanga, just 4 hours from your place. you’lll need to come a day before pick-up, though, to confirm the order and check the stock.
if yu haven’t found fingerlings and info yet – call us. we’ll be glad to teach you the basics and a trick or two to have a profitable operation.
i’m from agoo, la union where can we buy fingerlings the nearest or better still phone number to contact, thank you.
@roni and dindo, call vitarich at 843-3033
Dear Dindo,
If you are in need of Pangasius fingerlings, please call Blue Bay Aquaculture at 02-3747542 or 09188030736.
We have available now and we also deliver depending on the volume. Oue hatchery is located at Munoz, Nueva Ecija.
Nick
where can we buy fingerlings of this fish and everything about this?