Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, commonly known as the mud loach, belongs to the family Acrididae. It is often referred to as "Ginseng in Water" due to its rich nutritional value and delicious taste. The meat is tender and highly sought after, making it a popular ingredient in traditional dishes such as "Mud and Dough Tofu." Beyond its culinary appeal, the mud loach also holds significant medicinal value and is an important aquaculture species for export in China.
The mud loach is increasingly cultivated due to its strong adaptability, resistance to disease, high survival rate, and ease of feeding. Its ability to thrive in various environments makes it a promising candidate for aquaculture. Below are key technical points for seedling cultivation, pond farming, paddy field farming, disease prevention, harvesting, and transportation.
**1. Seedling Cultivation**
1.1 **Pond Conditions**: Earthen ponds are ideal for seedling rearing, with an area of 30–100 square meters and a depth of 40–60 cm. Fish slips should be dug into the pond to provide shelter and help regulate temperature. A 15–20 cm layer of silt is placed at the bottom, and duckweed covers about one-quarter of the surface to provide natural food and oxygen.
1.2 **Pond Preparation**: Ten days before stocking, the pond is disinfected using 20–30 kg of quicklime per 100 square meters. After disinfection, 300–400 kg of decomposed manure is applied as base fertilizer to enrich the water. The water level is raised to 30 cm, and once the water turns green with a transparency of 15–20 cm, seedlings can be introduced.
1.3 **Stocking**: On the second day after hatching, larvae are fed for 3–5 days until their yolk sacs disappear and they begin to swim freely. At this stage, they are ready for seedling culture. Stocking density should be around 800–1000 per square meter, and same-sized seedlings should be grouped together to ensure uniform growth.
1.4 **Feeding and Management**: Newly stocked seedlings have a strong preference for live feed like rotifers and small phytoplankton. These are filtered through a 50-mesh sieve and fed along the pond edges. As they grow, they can be transitioned to egg yolk, fish meal, milk powder, and bean cake. Once they reach 1 cm, they can consume insect larvae, organic debris, and a mix of vegetable and animal feeds. Feeding is done 3–4 times daily, gradually increasing the proportion of artificial feed. Feed is placed 5 cm above the pond floor, not scattered. Initial feed amounts range from 2% to 5% of total weight, increasing to 8%–10% later on. Regular water quality monitoring and timely fertilization are essential for healthy development.
**2. Pond Cultivation**
2.1 **Pond Construction**: Ponds should be built in sheltered, sunny areas with weakly alkaline soil free from pesticide contamination. The size ranges from 100–250 square meters, with a depth of 0.7–1 m. Cement or earthen ponds are both suitable. The bottom must be compacted and sealed to prevent leaks, with a 20–30 cm layer of sediment. Inlet and outlet screens prevent escape.
2.2 **Water Cultivation and Stocking**: After disinfection, organic fertilizer like pig manure is added to cultivate water quality. The pond depth is maintained at 30–50 cm, and quail species (3–4 cm) are stocked at 50–60 per square meter. Flow conditions can be adjusted based on growth.
2.3 **Feeding and Management**: Natural food is supplemented with animal-based feeds like aphids, fishmeal, and livestock waste, as well as vegetable feeds like bran and soybean cakes. Feeding is done daily in the afternoon, with 5%–10% of the loach’s body weight as the daily amount. Feeding frequency depends on water temperature, weather, and food availability. Water quality should be maintained with a transparency of 15–20 cm and a yellow-green color. When temperatures exceed 30°C, water should be changed frequently, and oxygen levels monitored. During winter, deeper water and manure application help maintain temperature.
**3. Rice Field Cultivation**
3.1 **Field Conditions and Reconstruction**: Suitable rice fields are those that are muddy, slightly alkaline, and free from cold-water leaching. Fields should be around 1000 square meters, with reinforced dikes and mesh barriers to prevent escape. Small pits and trenches are dug to provide shelter during hot summer months.
3.2 **Stocking Time and Density**: After transplanting rice, mature animal fertilizer is added to the pits and trenches 3–4 days before stocking. Loaches of 3–4 cm are stocked at 20,000–25,000 per 667 square meters.
3.3 **Feeding and Management**: Feeds include bran, dried cakes, alfalfa, and animal organs. Daily feeding is 5%–8% of the loach’s body weight, with feed placed in the ditches. Fertilization is done according to water quality, with 15 kg of fertilizer per 100 square meters. Pesticide use should be minimal, and if necessary, choose low-toxicity options. Maintain clean water and avoid overfeeding.
**4. Disease Prevention and Control**
4.1 **Water Mold**: White mold appears on the body. Prevent by avoiding physical injury and treating with 4% saline or 4 g/m³ malachite green.
4.2 **Rot Disease**: Ulcers and redness occur on fins and skin. Treat with 1 g/m³ bleaching powder or 0.1 g/m³ furazolidone.
4.3 **Parasitic Diseases**: Symptoms include thin bodies and erratic swimming. Treat with 0.7 g/m³ copper sulfate and ferrous sulfate, or 0.5 g/m³ crystal enemy 100.
4.4 **White Ring Disease**: Gray bodies with red rings. Prevent by dipping in 5 g/m³ malachite green solution.
4.5 **Bubble Disease**: Fry float on the surface. Prevent by adding salt and ensuring clean water.
4.6 **Predators**: Snakes, frogs, birds, and otters may prey on loaches. Use nets and barriers for protection.
**5. Harvesting Methods**
5.1 **Draining Method**: Drain the pond to stimulate loach movement toward the inlet, where nets can be used to capture them.
5.2 **Trapping Method**: Use bait like boiled bones or fried bran to attract loaches into traps.
5.3 **Dry Pond Method**: In winter, drain the pond and dig drainage channels to concentrate loaches for easy capture.
**6. Transportation**
Live loaches are commonly transported. Use bamboo rafts with plastic film lining, and add 2–2.5 kg of water per 25 kg of loach. Water is replenished every 1.5 hours to keep them alive during transport.
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