Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center in cooperation with the
International Development Research Centre
SAFIS Extension Manual Series No. 17, 1985
C U L T U R E O F S U L T A N F IS H
( L e p t o b a r b u s h o e v e n i i )
SEC/SM/17 SAFIS Manual No. 17
CULTURE OF SULTAN FISH
(Leptobarbus hoevenii)
The Secretariat
Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center February 1985
This manual is a translation of the Bahasa Malaysia text, Menternak Ikan Jelawat
(Culture of Leptobarbus hoevenii), published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries Division, as Malaysian Fisheries Series No. 16 in 1981.
The English translation was prepared for the SAFIS project by Mr. Nik Ab. Wahab bin Mat Diah, Aquaculture Fisheries Officer,
Fisheries Division, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
CULTURE OF SULTAN FISH (LEPTOBARBUS HOEVENII)
Introduction
Sultan fish (Leptobarbus hoevenii) is a freshwater fish which is very similar in
appearance to grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus). The main difference between the two
is that the ventral and tail fins of the sultan fish are reddish in colour. However, there are also other freshwater fish species which resemble the sultan fish. However, with some scientific knowledge, and experience, the sultan fish can easily be distinguished.
At present, production of this fish is mainly from capture fisheries in rivers
cultured fish in ponds under the MAJUIKAN*
(Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia) project at Puchong. Only a few farmers are involved in culturing the fish.
On account of the following factors, the Fisheries Division of the Ministry of
Agriculture of Malaysia is taking the initiative to promote and introduce the fish to farmers because of the following reasons:
* Presently known as LKIM (Lembaga Kemajuan Ikan Malaysia, Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia)
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(a ) In d ig e n o u s s p e c ie s
S u lta n f i s h b e lo n g s t o an in d ig e n o u s s p e c ie s w h ic h b re e d s n a t u r a l l y i n M a la y s ia . I t can be fo u n d i n s e v e r a l r i v e r s such as th e Pahang and Muar r i v e r s . There can be no d o u b t t h e r e f o r e t h a t th e f i s h i s w e ll ada p te d t o s u r v iv e i n lo c a l c o n d it io n s .
(b ) H ig h m a rke t v a lu e
The f i s h fe tc h e s a h ig h p r ic e i n th e M a la y s ia n m a rk e t. I n 1981, th e r e t a i l and w h o le s a le p r ic e s were M$24.80 and M$16.50 p e r k ilo g r a m r e s p e c t iv e ly . S u lta n f i s h i s s u p p lie d m a in ly t o r e s t a u r a n t s . I t appears t h a t demand f o r th e f i s h exceeds s u p p ly , w h ic h i s l i m i t e d .
( c ) A v a i l a b i l i t y o f fe e d
S u lta n f i s h a re o m n iv o ro u s , and p l e n t y o f fo o d i s a v a ila b le l o c a l l y f o r fe e d in g them .
(d ) H ig h s u r v iv a l r a t e
The f i s h a re h a rd y and a c t iv e , and t h e i r s u r v i v a l r a t e i s e s tim a te d between 95-96 p e r c e n t. They can move f a s t w h ic h makes i t d i f f i c u l t f o r p r e d a to r s t o c a tc h them . They a re a ls o r e s i s t a n t t o d is e a s e .
(e ) F is h seed s u p p ly
N o rm a lly s u lta n f i s h spawn o n ly i n a n a t u r a l e n v iro n m e n t, e s p e c ia l ly i n th e stre a m o f t h e i r o r i g i n . However, th e M a la y s ia n
A g r i c u l t u r a l R esearch and Developm ent I n s t i t u t e
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(MARDI) was a b le t o p ro d u ce seed by in d u c e d spaw ning te c h n iq u e s and re s e a rc h i s s t i l l o n g o in g . F o r c u l t u r e p u rp o s e s , seed can be im p o rte d fro m In d o n e s ia o r T h a ila n d .
CULTURE METHOD
Pond R e quirem ents
The pond r e q u ire m e n ts a re th e same as f o r o t h e r s p e c ie s o f f r e s h w a te r f i s h . The s iz e o f th e pond s h o u ld be a t le a s t 0 .1 ha and a d e p th o f w a te r w i t h i n th e ra n g e o f 92 t o 183 cm i s c o n s id e re d s u i t a b l e . The pond i s g e n e r a lly r e c t a n g u la r i n shape.
S to c k in g Rate
The s t o c k in g r a t e depends on t h e system o f c u l t u r e , i . e . , m o n o c u ltu re o r p o l y c u l t u r e .
(a ) M o n o c u ltu re
The m o n o c u ltu re system i s n o t recommended s in c e i t does n o t make f u l l u se o f th e fo o d and space a v a i la b le i n th e pond.
However, i f th e fa rm e rs p r e f e r t h i s m ethod, th e n th e y s h o u ld engage i n in t e n s iv e c u l t u r e . A s t o c k in g d e n s it y o f 1 ,5 0 0 f i s h p e r 0 .4 ha i s recommended.
(b ) P o ly c u lt u r e
P o ly c u lt u r e i s c o n s id e re d more p r o f i t a b l e and th e fa rm e rs a re encouraged t o use t h i s syste m . The s t o c k in g r a t e recommended i s as f o ll o w s :
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S p e cie s S to c k in g R a te /0 .4 ha
S u lta n f i s h 800
Grass c a rp 300
B ig h e a d ca rp 150
Common ca rp 150
In d o n e s ia n ca rp 150
T o t a l: 1, 550
S u p p le m e n ta ry Feeds
S u p p le m e n ta ry fe e d s c o n t a in in g 29-30 p e r c e n t p r o t e i n a re s u i t a b le f o r f e e d in g th e f i s h . I f th e fe e d i s lo w e r i n p r o t e in c o n t e n t , th e g ro w th r a t e i s p o o r. F is h meal and i n t e r n a l v i s c e r a l o rgan s o f p o u l t r y a re among th e fo o d s c o n t a in in g a b o u t 30 p e r c e n t o f p r o t e i n . The f o l l o w i n g s u p p le m e n ta ry fe e d s a re recommended:
- Coconut cake - Soya bean cake - R ice b ra n
- N a p ie r and g u in e a g ra sse s - Cassava le a v e s
- W a te r " s p in a c h " (k a n g k o n g ), e t c . The f i s h s h o u ld be g iv e n as much fe e d as th e y can e a t . When th e y cease t o show any i n t e r e s t i n th e fo o d b e in g g iv e n t o them , fe e d in g s h o u ld be s to p p e d t e m p o r a r ily .
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P o u lt r y d ro p p in g s can be u t i l i z e d i n ponds as a f e r t i l i z e r t o i n i t i a t e p la n k to n g ro w th , w h ic h s e rv e s as a n a t u r a l fo o d f o r t h e f i s h .
Growth Rate and C ost o f P ro d u c tio n
S u lta n f i s h a re a b le t o grow up t o an ave ra g e s iz e o f 0 . 6 - 0 . 9 kg w i t h i n a c u l t u r e p e r io d o f e ig h t m onths. The c o s t o f p ro d u c in g one k ilo g r a m o f f i s h i n 1981 was a b o u t M $6.60.
COST AND RETURN
The f o l l o w i n g c a l c u la t i o n s a re based on a pond s iz e o f 0 .4 ha on a c u l t u r e p e r io d o f e ig h t m onths, and on th e a ss u m p tio n t h a t h o u se h o ld la b o u r i s u t i l i z e d * .
1. Pond c o n s t r u c t io n c o s t i ) E x c a v a tio n and
c o n s t r u c t i o n
M $ 5 ,0 0 0 .00 i i ) Pond f a c i l i t i e s
a) One u n i t o f T -sh a p e p ip e 3 .6 0 b) 14 u n i t s o f s t r a i g h t
p ip e s M$5.60 each 8 3 .2 0
c) One 50 kg bag o f cement 8 .2 0 T o t a l : M$5, 095. 00
* These c a l c u la t i o n s a re based on 1981 p r ic e s .
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2 . O p e ra tin g c o s ts 2 .1 S u p p ly o f f i s h
S p e c ie s S iz e Amount P r ic e / p ie c e C ost
S u lt a n f i s h 10 cm 800 M $0.50 M $400.00
Grass c a rp 10 cm 300 M$0.50 1 5 0 .0 0
B ig h e a d c a rp 10 cm 150 M$0.5 0 7 5 .0 0
Common c a rp 10 cm 150 M$0.50 1 5 .0 0
In d o n e s ia n c a rp 10 cm 150 M$0.50 1 5 .0 0
T o t a l : M$655.0 0
2 .2 Feed
i ) Coconut cake 2 ,2 0 8 kg
(M$1.00 p e r kg) M $2,208.00
i i ) Soya bean cake 2 ,2 0 8 kg
(M$1.00 p e r kg) M $2,208.00
T o t a l : M$4, 4 1 6 .00
I t i s c o n s id e re d t h a t cassava le a v e s , g ra s s e s and c h ic k e n d ro p p in g s w o u ld be s u p p lie d f r e e o f c o s t .
2 .3 M is c e lla n e o u s
i ) F e r t i l i z e r 100 kg M$ 9 5 .0 0
i i ) Lime 302 kg 31 .0 0
i i i ) O th e rs 100.00
T o t a l : M$ 226 .00
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3 . T o t a l o p e r a tin g c o s ts
F is h M$ 6 5 5 .0 0
Feed 4 ,4 1 6 .0 0
M is c e lla n e o u s 226 .00
T o t a l : M$5,2 9 7 .0 0
4 . R e tu rn
T o t a l p r o d u c tio n
( 0 .4 ha) = 1 ,1 4 9 - 1 ,5 6 6 kg Gross income = M$9,206 - M$13,4 7 7 .0 0 N et income = M$3,9 0 9 .0 0 - M$8,1 8 0 .0 0 M o n th ly income = M$325.75 t o M$681.67
4.Yield Theestimated yield isasfollows: Species Stocking Rate (0.4ha) Survival Rate % Number Live Fish Fish Weight (kg)
Total Weight Price/kg (M$)
Value (M$) Sultanfish800957600.6-0.9456-68410.507,524 -11,286 Grass carp300702101.8-2.4378-5042.801,058-1,411 Bigheadcarp150701051.8-2.4189-2521.98374-500 Commoncarp150701050.6631.98125 Indonesian carp150701050.6631.98125
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L IS T OF SAFIS EXTENSION MANUALS
SEC/SM/1 Khumua l ia n g p l a namcheut (F re s h w a te r F is h F a rm in g : How t o B e g in ) — i n T h a i SEC/SM/2 O y s te r C u lt u r e
SEC/SM/3 M ussel C u ltu r e
SEC/SM/4 Ang pagpuna ug p a g ta p a k sa p u k o t (N e t M ending and P a tc h in g ) - - i n C e buan o-B isaya
SEC/SM/5 M ussel F a n n in g
SEC/SM/6 Menter n ak Ik a n A ir t a w a r (F re s h w a te r F is h F a n n in g : How to B e g in ) - - i n Bahasa M a la y s ia
SEC/SM/7 Makanan dan Pemakanan Udang H a rim a u , Penaeus monodon ( N u t r i t i o n and
F e e d in g o f Sugpo, Penaeus monodon)
— i n Bahasa M a la y s ia SEC/SM/8 M a cro b ra ch iu m C u lt u r e
SEC/SM/9 S e le c t io n o f M a rin e Shrim p f o r C u lt u r e
SEC/SM/10 In d u c e d B re e d in g o f T h a i S i l v e r Carp
SEC/SM/11 C u lt u r e o f Sea Bass SEC/SM/12 S m o k e -c u rin g o f F is h
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SEC/SM/13 C o c k le c u l t u r e
SEC/SM/14 N et M ending and P a tc h in g
SEC/SM/15 K a n lia n g h o y m alangphu (M ussel F a n n in g ) - - in T h a i
SEC/SM/16 N u rs e ry Management o f Prawns SEC/SM/17 C u lt u r e o f S u lta n F is h
(L e p to b a rb u s h o e v e n ii)
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SAFIS
0 What i s SAFIS?
SAFIS i s th e S o u th e a s t A s ia n F is h e r ie s I n fo r m a t io n S e r v ic e . I t i s a p r o j e c t o f th e SEAFDEC S e c r e t a r ia t s e t up t o p r o v id e e x te n s io n m a t e r ia ls f o r
s m a ll- s c a le fis h e rm e n and f i s h fa rm e rs i n th e r e g io n .
0 What a re i t s o b j e c t iv e s ?
The im m e d ia te o b je c t iv e s a re t o c o l l e c t and c o m p ile f i s h e r i e s e x te n s io n m anua ls, b r o c h u re s , p a m p h le ts and r e la t e d a id s f o r s m a ll- s c a le f i s h e r i e s d e v e lo p m e n t, and t o t r a n s l a t e s e le c te d l i t e r a t u r e i n t o lo c a l la nguages f o r d i s t r i b u t i o n t o f i s h e r i e s e x te n s io n w o rk e rs i n S o u th e a s t A s ia .
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0 What s e r v ic e s w i l l SAFIS p r o v id e ?
SAFIS w i l l a tte m p t t o p r o v id e in f o r m a t io n and p u b li c a t i o n s such a s :
- l i s t s o f a v a i la b le t e x t s i n f i s h e r i e s e x te n s io n s e r v ic e s , - t r a n s l a t i o n o f s u i t a b le m a n u a ls, - manuals o f a p p r o p r ia t e t e c h n o lo g ie s , - p h o to c o p ie s o f a p p r o p r ia t e
f i s h e r i e s e x te n s io n l i t e r a t u r e , a c u r r e n t awareness s e r v ic e o f r e g io n a l f i s h e r i e s .
0 How much w i l l th e s e s e r v ic e s c o s t ?
A n o m in a l c o s t o f US $ 0 .1 5 p e r page w i l l be ch a rg e d f o r p h o to c o p y in g , h a n d lin g , and s u r fa c e m a il . A ir m a il c o s ts w i l l be e x t r a . The p u b l i c a t i o n c o s t p e r manual w i l l v a r y a c c o rd in g t o th e boo k.
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SAFIS i s g r a t e f u l f o r f i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t r e c e iv e d fro m th e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Development R esearch C e n tre
( IDRC) o f Canada.
SAFIS is the Southeast Asian Fisheries Information Ser
vice. It is a project of the SEAFDEC Secretariat set up to provide extension materials for small - scale fishermen and fish farmers in the region. For additional informa
tion, contact the Project Leader of SAFIS SEAFDEC Liaison Office
956 Rama IV Road
Olympia Building, 4th floor Bangkok 10500, Thailand