In fish farming, cage culture is one of the means of culturing fish in most ponds and waters. You can produce up to 2,000 pounds of catfish per acre in cages and also have fish loose in the pond. This level of production is not recommended because it will increase management problems and the likelihood of water quality problems. For production of fish for home uses, a safer limit is 1,000 pounds of catfish in cages per acre. Cage Construction Various materials and designs can be used to construct cages, but be sure the materials will be able resist deterioration. Hard ware cloth and metal screens rust quickly. Plastic coated wire screen is satisfactory. Plastic screen is preferred and nylon
and polyethylene net can also be used. Use the largest mesh size that will contain the size fish you plan to stock while allowing sufficient water circulation through the cage.
One-half-inch mesh or larger is preferred. You can buy ready-made cages, or you can build a cage with a minimum of effort and materials. For home uses, a cylindrical cage four feet high and four feet in diameter is a good size (Figure 4). Build a cylindrical cage by forming the screening material into a cylinder and fastening metal or fiber glass hoops to both ends Cut out a circular piece of screen and attach it to the bottom. Attach another piece to a third hoop for a lid. Lace the screen to the hoops with a light electrical wire, such as 18 gauge bell wire. Be sure to run the wire through each mesh. This adds strength and seals gaps where fish might escape. A feeding ring is essential. Without it, water will carry feed out of the cage before it is consumed by the fish. A feeding ring can be made of screen with a mesh size small enough to prevent feed pellets from passing through it. It should extend from the cage lid to about eight inches below the water surface.
A three-foot diameter feeding ring can be fastened to the cage lid with monofilament line or a four-foot diameter feeding ring can be fastened to the interior upper portion of the cage. The cage should float so the lid is three to six inches above the water. Any method of flotation can be used. Styrofoam blocks are best; even plastic bottles can be used. Plastic bottles such as milk or antifreeze jugs will deteriorate in one or two seasons. Cage Placement, Select an area where there will be at least a foot between the cage and pond bottom. Also, select an area where water will circulate freely through the cage. The end of a dock or pier is usually a good location. If a dock is unavailable, the cage can be attached to a metal or wooden pipe driven into the pond bottom.
More than one cage can be attached to a durable nylon rope or cable strung across the pond. In selecting an area also consider how easy it will be to feed and observe the fish. Stocking the Cage Except for stocking rates, all other factors discussed in the section "Stocking Channel Catfish into a Pond" apply to cages. A four-by-four-foot cylindrical cage will hold about 500 fish grown to an average size of one pound each. The total weight of fish in cages cannot exceed the weight the entire body of water would support if the fish were loose. A safe level is about 1,000 pounds of catfish per acre of water, including fish in cages and those that may be loose in the pond. Feeding Catfish in Cages Feed caged catfish daily, since they do not have access to natural food in the pond. Use a commercial floating catfish feed that contains at least 32 percent protein plus essential vitamins and minerals. Use ¼- or 3/16-inch pellets. Feed only what the fish will consume in a 15- to 20-minute period, and never exceed 35 pounds of feed per acre a day.
Feed at the same time each day. When the water temperature is below 65°F. follow guidelines for winter feeding described in the section "Feeding Catfish in Ponds." Raising Rainbow Trout in Cages With some exceptions, rainbow trout can be raised in cages during the winter months in most Georgia ponds. In most areas the growing season is about four months.
Rainbow trout must be stocked when water temperatures are below 70°F and harvested in the spring before the water reaches 70°F. Seven-inch long fingerlings should be stocked so they will reach one half to three-fourths pound at harvest. Stock no more than 300 fish in a 4-foot diameter, 4-foot cage. Trout should be fed a commercial floating trout feed that has at least 40 percent crude protein and all essential vitamins and minerals. If possible, feed twice a day. Trout will consume about 2 percent of their body weight per day when water temperatures are above 50°F. When water temperatures are below 50°F, feed 1 percent of their body weight daily. Or, as a general rule, feed what the fish will eat in a 30-minute period. Remember that rainbow trout are more sensitive than channel catfish to handling, low oxygen, and high temperatures.
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