POND PREPARATION

1. If required, repair the dykes and level the pond bottom

2. Cut the overgrown grass and branches of trees over-casting the pond

3. Remove all the aquatic weeds from the pond

4. Eradicate all the existing stock of fish. For this you can follow either of the following methods:

4.1 Dewatering and drying the pond

This is the most ideal method. Dewater the pond and expose to sunlight till the bottom cracks. In case drying is not possible, apply suitable fish toxicant to kill the existing fish.

4.2 Poisoning the pond

In case dewatering and drying of pond is not possible, eradicate the fish and other animals by any of the following methods.

4.2.1 Bleaching powder

Bleaching powder can kill all the fish, frog, snails, other molluscs, and disease causing organisms.

Dose: 1kg/decimal/30 cm (1 feet) of water.

How to apply

Take desired amount of bleaching powder in bucket, mix with sufficient water and uniformly apply to the entire pond. Net the pond after some time for proper mixing and catching the affected fishes.

Toxicity

Toxicity usually lasts for 7 days.

You need not apply lime in case you have applied bleaching powder

4.2.2 Rotenone

Rotenone kills all predatory and weed fishes, although shrimps remain unaffected.

Dose: 30–35g/decimal/30 cm (1 feet) water

How to apply

Take desired amount of rotenone powder in bucket, mix with sufficient water and uniformly apply to the entire pond. Net the pond after some time for proper mixing and catching the affected fishes.

Toxicity

Toxicity usually lasts for a week.

4.2.3 Fumigant tablet (Phostoxin/Selphos etc.)

The fumigant tablet is used for protecting food grains from insect/pest/attack. It kills all the fishes in the pond, however, at times chanda, tilapia have been found to reappear.

How to apply

Uniformly throw the desired number of tablet throughout the pond. Net the pond to catch the fish as soon as they start surfacing.

Caution

Use mask while applying the tablet in the pond. Result is relatively better in shallow ponds.

Toxicity

Toxicity lasts for 7–10 days.

Dose: 1 tab (3g each)/decimal/30 cm (1 feet) of water

5. LIMING

Apply lime just after dewatering or poisoning the pond.

Dose: 1–2kg/decimal

Application

Soak the sack of lime in the pond for few hours and move it throughout the pond to have uniform application.

In dry pond soaked lime may be broadcasted throughout the pond bottom and slope.

6. MANURING THE POND

To promote the production of natural fish food organisms for the fry/fingerling, apply both organic and inorganic fertilizers after 7–8 days of liming.

Dose per decimal:

Application

Mix both the organic and inorganic manure with sufficient amount of water and apply uniformly throughout the pond.